USA’s Shayan Jahangir calls for ICC support to unlock hidden Associate cricket talent.
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Shayan Jahangir Demands
How do you prepare to face the world’s fastest bowlers when your “warm-up” consists of facing a developmental “A” side while your rivals are sharpening their blades against the likes of India and Australia?
For USA batter Shayan Jahangir, the answer is simple: you can’t. At least, not fairly. Standing on the sweltering turf of the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Jahangir didn’t just talk about the upcoming match against the Netherlands.
He threw down a gauntlet to the International Cricket Council. He isn’t asking for a handout. He is asking for a seat at the table that isn’t made of folding plastic.
The Inequality of the Schedule
The USA entered this T20 World Cup with their backs against the wall. While the cricketing “aristocracy” spent their pre-tournament weeks in high-intensity series, the Americans were relegated to playing Sri Lanka’s second string.
“Pakistan played against Australia, New Zealand played against India, and we were playing against Sri Lanka A,” Jahangir noted with a bluntness that caught many by surprise. This isn’t just about practice; it’s about the economy of prestige.
Without the funding to host major competitions or the infrastructure to maintain world-class grounds, Associate nations are forced to live on the scraps of the international calendar.
The Invisible Wall for Talent
Jahangir pointed to a name that should be a household staple: Dipendra Singh Airee. The Nepalese phenom holds a record that sounds like a typo—a half-century off just nine balls. He has hit six consecutive sixes in an over.
- The Exposure Gap: Despite these superhuman feats, Airee has played only ten matches against Full Member nations.
- The League Barrier: Because he hails from an Associate nation, the doors to global T20 leagues remain stubbornly stiff.
- The Lost Value: Cricket is losing out on box-office talent because the “Associate” tag acts as a glass ceiling.
The “Nurture” Request
The plea from the USA camp is rooted in a belief that Associate cricket is a gold mine waiting for a drill. Jahangir’s request to the ICC is personal. He believes that if the “big powers” truly nurtured these teams, the competitive gap would vanish overnight.
Key Takeaways from Jahangir’s Plea:
- Funding: Essential for building the “big grounds” required for high-level play.
- Recognition: High-level performance against minor teams needs to carry the same weight as franchise success.
- The Push: It’s not just about money; it’s about the ICC actively brokering matches between Associate sides and Full Members.
Money Doesn’t Buy Grit
There is a common assumption that a massive injection of cash would turn the USA or Nepal into world-beaters by next Tuesday. That is a fantasy.
The real deficit isn’t in the bank account; it’s in the “exposure to failure.” Associate teams need to play—and lose—to the giants repeatedly. You cannot buy the experience of surviving a Mitchell Starc opening spell under lights. Funding is the fuel, but exposure is the engine.
Until the ICC forces the “Big Three” to play these nations outside of World Cups, the gap will remain a chasm.
The Chennai Crossroads
The USA’s tournament life is currently on life support. After two bruising losses to India and Pakistan, Friday’s clash against the Netherlands is a “win or go home” scenario.
For Jahangir and his teammates, it is a chance to prove that they belong in the conversation, even if the system is designed to keep them out of it.