ICC chairman Jay Shah’s growing emphasis on strengthening Associate Members is beginning to reshape the global cricket landscape, with Uganda emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of this renewed strategic direction.
Shah has consistently underscored the importance of expanding competitive opportunities for Associate nations, alongside building stronger cricketing structures through targeted investment, international partnerships and institutional collaborations designed to accelerate long-term development.
Steady rise
Uganda, widely regarded as one of the fastest-rising Associate cricket nations, continues to make significant strides both on and off the field. The country’s progress has been anchored in improved governance systems, structured development programmes and a clear strategic roadmap aimed at elevating its status within world cricket.
According to Cricket Uganda (CU) leadership, the ICC’s renewed approach has created meaningful opportunities for engagement with established cricket institutions, including the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), paving the way for technical exchange, coaching development and administrative capacity building.
CU chairman Jackson Kavuma praised the ICC leadership for its proactive role in strengthening Associate cricket, singling out Jay Shah’s contribution in connecting emerging nations with established cricket structures.
‘Jay Shah has been instrumental in supporting Associate Members including Uganda,’ said Kavuma.
Strong relations
‘As part of his efforts to strengthen support for Associates, he encouraged one of India’s leading domestic associations, the MCA, to play a more active role in this agenda. Uganda was fortunate to have already established strong relations with Mumbai, particularly through Ajinkya Naik, President of MCA, which made engagement much easier.’My personal relationship with Naik also played a significant role in helping Uganda build and strengthen this partnership with Mumbai,’ Kavuma said.
He added that this model of collaboration reflects a departure from previous ICC approaches, which often lacked structured pathways for sustained engagement between Associates and full-member cricket institutions.
The partnership between Uganda Cricket and MCA is expected to focus on knowledge sharing, player and coach development, as well as strengthening institutional frameworks that support long-term growth.
With continued ICC backing and expanding international networks, Uganda is positioning itself as a leading example of how Associate nations can transition into more competitive and structured cricketing systems.
As global cricket continues to evolve, Uganda’s trajectory suggests that the gap between traditional powers and emerging nations may continue to narrow – driven by structured support, strategic partnerships and leadership-driven development agendas.
THE TALKING POINT
Global Shift. ICC chairman Jay Shah’s push to strengthen Associate Members is opening new pathways for Uganda Cricket, with strategic partnerships such as the Mumbai Cricket Association collaboration reflecting a wider shift towards empowering emerging nations through development, exposure and international cooperation.