Jay Shah Applauds Associate Nations' Impact at 2026 World Cup

ICC Chairman Commends Strong Performances

New Delhi, March 15: Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), expressed his admiration for the 2026 World Cup, particularly noting the impressive performances from associate nations. He highlighted thrilling matches, including the USA's competitive game against India, the Netherlands' near victory over Pakistan, Nepal's challenging encounter with England, and Zimbabwe's surprising win against Australia.

Shah extended his congratulations to all associate teams, emphasizing that their contributions have significantly enhanced the tournament's prestige.

“The 2026 World Cup was crucial for associate nations. While India claimed the championship, it was evident how fiercely the USA contested against India. The Netherlands came close to defeating Pakistan, Nepal put up a strong fight against England, and Zimbabwe triumphed over Australia. I want to acknowledge the entire associate cricket community for their efforts. The tournament's stature has been elevated due to your performances,” Shah stated during a press conference.

He also mentioned that this World Cup has set new records for viewership, although he refrained from disclosing specific figures at this time, promising to provide them to the media later. “What I can confirm is that the viewership numbers have surpassed all previous records,” he added.

India recently secured victory in the T20 World Cup, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs to defend their title successfully.

This win marked India as the first team to clinch the T20 World Cup on home soil, the first to achieve back-to-back titles following their 2024 win, and the first to lift the trophy three times (2007, 2024, and 2026).

Sanju Samson's remarkable innings of 89 runs off 46 balls in the final, along with significant contributions from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shivam Dube, propelled India to a formidable total of 254 in the first innings.