Sports 18 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Jay Shah's Focus on Associate Cricket Propels Uganda's Growth
Uganda Cricket is experiencing significant growth on the international stage, largely attributed to ICC chairman Jay Shah's strategic agenda that prioritizes Associate Members. This focus has unlocked new opportunities through partnerships and development initiatives. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/cricket/cricket-uganda-gains-from-jay-shah-s-strong-associate-agenda-5500842
Uganda’s cricket team is making significant strides internationally, a development closely linked to ICC chairman Jay Shah’s increased emphasis on Associate Members. This strategic direction, focusing on partnerships, institutional collaborations, and development pathways, is creating new avenues for emerging cricketing nations.
Shah has consistently advocated for expanding competitive opportunities for Associate nations. His approach involves building robust cricketing structures through targeted investments and fostering collaborations to accelerate long-term development. This has created meaningful opportunities for Uganda Cricket (CU) to engage with established cricket bodies.
CU chairman Jackson Kavuma highlighted the ICC’s proactive role, specifically commending Jay Shah for connecting emerging nations with established cricketing structures. Kavuma noted Shah’s instrumental support, which led to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) playing a more active role in supporting Associate Members. Fortunately, Uganda had already established strong ties with Mumbai, including a personal relationship between Kavuma and MCA President Ajinkya Naik, facilitating this collaboration.
This partnership model represents a shift from previous ICC strategies, which often lacked structured pathways for sustained engagement between Associate and full-member cricket institutions. The collaboration between Uganda Cricket and MCA is set to focus on knowledge sharing, enhancing player and coach development, and strengthening institutional frameworks for sustained growth.
With ongoing ICC backing and expanding international networks, Uganda is emerging as a prime example of how Associate nations can develop more competitive and structured cricketing systems. This support suggests a potential narrowing of the gap between established powers and emerging cricketing nations globally.