• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

T20 World Cup 2026: The Netherlands cricket team was just one catch away from scripting one of the first upsets of the ongoing mega event. If Faheem Ashraf were dismissed in the 19th over, then Pakistan would have suffered another humiliating loss.

The Dutch missed that chance, and Ashraf capitalized on it. Twenty-nine runs were scored during the last two overs, and the Men in Green snatched victory away from the hands of the Dutch.

“I want to be very clear: Pakistan didn’t win the game today, we lost the game ourselves,” Netherlands' fast bowler Paul van Meekeren told reporters during the post-match press conference.

ALSO READ: Ex-India Cricketer Warns Against ‘Washington Sundar Mistake,’ Backs Same XI vs WI

Closing gaps

That match set the foundation for how the associate teams will perform during the group stages: bouncing back brilliantly, piling pressure on full-member teams, and trying to show complete dominance. It was heartbreaking to see that none of the associate teams could qualify for the Super 8s stages.

On the same day, the USA had made the reigning champions India reel at 77/6, but Suryakumar Yadav helped the team bounce back and set a mammoth target, which they went on to win by 29 runs. The next day, Nepal gave the Harry Brook-led side a nervy scare, losing by 4 runs, even though they needed just 13 runs to win in the last 9 balls with 5 wickets remaining.

“More matches against top teams help you handle pressure moments better. Experience comes from repeatedly being in those situations,” USA's Shayan Jahangir told reporters during the post-match press conference.

ALSO READ: Eden Gardens Showdown: Five Reasons West Indies Could Outplay India

One thing became quite clear during the 2026 T20 World Cup: the Associate teams didn't just come here to participate; they also fought to compete. The closely fought matches, the determination under pressure, and the individuals showing their brilliant skills proved that they belonged at the top level.

Playing in its first T20 World Cup, Italy beat Nepal and gave England a hard time.

“We came here wanting to win games, so I wouldn’t say we exceeded expectations. We gave it a proper go. That’s what we demanded of ourselves,” Italy skipper Wayne Madsen told reporters during the post-match press conference.

There has been a huge change in the mindset. They have become competitive and tactically brilliant. However, they have experienced most of their experience in the Associate circuit. ICC qualifiers, regional tournaments, and domestic leagues have helped them grow.

“The Nepal Premier League (NPL) is very important for Nepali players. It is one of the best T20 tournaments in the country. Many local players who don’t often get national team opportunities gain exposure there. They share dressing rooms with experienced international players and learn from them. That experience is invaluable", Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel told reporters during the post-match press conference.

Limited exposure

In September last year, Nepal featured in its only bilateral series against a full member team, and that too, the West Indies. They had clinched the series 2-1. During the 2024 T20 World Cup, they were just one run short of beating South Africa in their group-stage match.

“After that World Cup game against South Africa, we only played one series against a Test-playing nation, the West Indies. In the last two years, we didn’t receive the exposure and experience we expected after that performance,” he added.

“We’ve been playing matches, but not regularly against top teams. I’m not asking for six or seven series a year. Even one or two series annually against strong teams would help us test ourselves at that level," he concluded.

The same held for the Associate teams during the ongoing tournament. The USA qualified for the Super 8s at the 2024 T20 World Cup but didn't play a single bilateral series against a full-member team afterward.

While preparing for the ongoing mega event, the USA cricket team faced a governance crisis, had a one-month training camp in Sri Lanka, faced Sri Lanka A and Oman, and played two warm-up matches.


Also In News