As the United States gear up for a do-or-die Group A T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, USA batter Shayan Jahangir has made a passionate appeal for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to increase both financial support and competitive opportunities for Associate cricket nations. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Jahangir highlighted the disparity in preparation between Associate teams and the established Full Members. 

"The exposure and the kind of funding that we also get from ICC is lacking. I think we've been given the tag of Associate Nation, but we are nothing short of a great team. As you have seen in this World Cup, all teams that are tagged Associate nations have put on a show, and they've given a very tough time to all these big teams. Nepal almost won a game against England. We almost beat India, having them 75 for 6 - again Surya playing the way he played. But if we had cleansed those moments, we would have beaten the powerhouse of a World Cup team," Jahangir said at the press conference.

"I would say, we have not been watered down properly. We haven't been nurtured properly. But again, it's all our players who are putting in the hard yards. Without the financial resources, without the infrastructure, I think if ICC pays more attention to us and all the Associate nations, you'll see more big games and you'll see all these teams coming and changing their tag from Associate nations to big teams as well."

Jahangir stressed that proper backing would help unlock the potential within associate teams. Ahead of the T20I World Cup, USA had limited match-practice, facing only Sri Lanka A before the start of the World Cup.

"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."

"It has a lot to do with the funding as well. We don't have the money to have those comps, 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."