Associate nations such as the USA, Nepal, the Netherlands and most recently Italy have turned heads at the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka with spirited performances against established cricketing powers.

The Netherlands nearly stunned Pakistan in the tournament opener, the USA pushed India harder than anticipated, and Nepal arguably delivered the standout effort among associate sides, falling just five runs short against England.

Ahead of USA’s Group A clash against the Netherlands, batter Shayan Jahangir criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what he described as inadequate financial backing for associate nations striving to compete at the highest level.

“The exposure and the kind of funding we get from the ICC is lacking. We’ve been given the tag of an Associate nation, but we’re nothing short of a great team,” Jahangir said at a press conference. “As you’ve seen in this World Cup, all the Associate teams have put on a show and given the big sides a very tough time.”

Jahangir argued that these performances have come despite limited financial support and infrastructure.

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“I would say we haven’t been watered properly. We haven’t been nurtured properly. It’s our players putting in the hard yards. Without financial resources and proper infrastructure, it’s difficult. If the ICC pays more attention to Associate nations, you’ll see more big games and these teams changing their tag from Associate to top teams,” he added.

Recalling USA’s strong showing against India, Jahangir said the team had its moments. “We had them 75 for 6. Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) played the way he did, but if we had seized those key moments, we could have beaten a World Cup powerhouse.”

He emphasised that preparation is closely tied to funding, noting that associate teams lack the resources to organise competitive fixtures or play regularly at top venues.

“Preparation is very important, and it has a lot to do with funding. We don’t have the money to organise competitions or play on big grounds. This is my personal request to the ICC: look into it. There’s so much talent in Associate cricket.”

Jahangir also pointed to Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, who once grabbed headlines with a nine-ball half-century, as an example of untapped potential.

“If something like that happened regularly at the highest level, he would have global recognition. Yet he’s still struggling to play league cricket worldwide. Exposure, funding and a little push are required — hopefully, we’ll get it,” he said.