Pakistani-origin USA star hits out at Jay Shah’s ICC, demands bigger salary: The Associate countries have played excellent cricket in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The United States, Nepal and the Netherlands almost pulled off upsets in their opening games against India, England and Pakistan respectively. Italy, making their debut on Thursday, created history by winning their first game in a major competition against Nepal by 10 wickets.
Amidst all this, United States batsman Shayne Jahangir has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ask for more funding for associate teams from the ICC going forward. The Pakistan-born batsman spoke at the pre-match conference ahead of USA’s upcoming match against Netherlands in the T20 World Cup in Chennai. He has asked to pay more attention to ‘nurturing’ the associate teams in the right way.
USA star Shayan Jahangir wants ICC to give exposure
“The exposure and the kind of funding we get from the ICC is lacking. I think we have been given the Associate Nation tag, but we are no less than a great team. As you have seen in this World Cup, all the teams with the Associate Nation tag have performed well and they have given a very tough time to all these big teams,” Shayan Jahangir said in the press conference.
“Nepal almost won a match against England. We almost beat India, they were 75 for 6 – again Surya (Kumar Yadav) played the same way. But if we had cleaned up those moments, we would have beaten the powerhouse of a World Cup team.”
He further added, “I would say, we have not been properly watered. We have not been properly nurtured. But then, it is all our players who are working hard. Without financial resources, without infrastructure.”
“I think if the ICC pays more attention to us and all the Associate countries, you will see more big games and you will see all these teams coming and changing their tag from Associate countries to big teams.”
USA star Shayan Jahangir asks ICC to organize bilateral series
Shayan Jahangir also asked ICC to arrange bilateral series between associate countries and top teams to prepare for the tournament, which will always serve as a better opportunity for smaller countries coming to the big event. “Preparation is very important. And it also has a lot to do with funding,” he said.
“We don’t have the money to have those comps, we have those big grounds that we can play on, and I think if we have that funding from the ICC, and this is a request to us, personally, to really look at it, and if you really nurture us, I’m telling you, there’s a lot of talent in associate cricket.”
There are a lot of cricketers who are very good – Shayan Jahangir
Shayan Jahangir said, “There are many cricketers who are very good, but they are not given exposure. I think there is a boy from Nepal, he has scored a half-century in nine balls.” [referring to Dipendra Singh Airee]”
He concluded, “And if it was at the highest level, he would have got recognition all over the world and he is still struggling to play league cricket all over the world. So I think exposure, funding and a little bit of encouragement is also necessary and hopefully we will achieve that.”
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