Jahangir Urges ICC to Boost Funding and Opportunities for Associate Nations

The rising USA batter, Shayan Jahangir, has urged the ICC to provide more funding and exposure to Associate nations. He believes players in these teams have plenty of talent, but due to a lack of opportunities, they aren’t able to showcase it consistently on the international stage.

He explained that every major team began its preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 by playing competitive series beforehand. Unfortunately, the USA didn’t have that opportunity, as they only managed to play against Sri Lanka A before entering the mega event.

"See, especially coming into this tournament, all major teams have played big T20 series. Pakistan played against Australia, New Zealand played against India, and we were playing against Sri Lanka A.” said Shayan Jahangir at the press conference.

"It has a lot to do with the funding as well. We don't have the money to have those comps [competitions], don't have those big grounds that we can play on, and I think if we have that funding from the ICC... It's a request from us, personally from me, to really look into it, and if you really nurture us, I'm telling you, there's so much talent in Associate cricket." added Shayan Jahangir.

He further added that performing well against big teams gives a lot of self-belief. Keeping that in view, he believes the USA team will improve more in the coming years, as they have the talent to impress everyone at the big stage.

"Being thrown in the jungle against the big boys and coming out strong gives you a great sense of belief. Again, these moments, if we keep seizing them... if most of the players also get those moments and they seize them, they will elevate their game and hopefully as well in the next few years you will see more guys [from USA] performing and more guys representing franchises and league cricket all over the world and everybody is going to be pleased to see the talent that we have." said Shayan Jahangir