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The likes of India, Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand, West Indies, and Pakistan are always in the headlines, be it because of their players, their performances, etc.

However, today our focus will be completely on the associate teams as we discuss the best XI with players only belonging to the associate teams.

So who are the Associate teams? By definition, an Associate team or a member is the governing body for cricket of a country that is recognized by ICC associated for cricket purposes, or a geographical area, which does not qualify as a Full Member but where cricket is firmly established and organized.

The ICC Associate Members include the likes of Argentina, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, PNG, Scotland, Singapore, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

The fact that so many teams are hopefuls about becoming a giant in this sport in the upcoming years is endearing and at the same time very pleasing.

So let's get into details and present you our best XI for the associate sides.

George Munsey (Scotland)

The 28-year-old Henry George Munsey was born on February 21, 1993. He is a left-handed opening batsman and also bowls right-arm medium-fast.

George Munsey Associate
George Munsey (Image Credits: CricketScotland)

He has 987 runs in 36 innings in T20Is and the Scottish player commenced his international career in 2015. However, he had to wait a couple of years more to make his One Day International debut. Finally, on January 22, 2017, George Munsey made his ODI debut against Hong Kong.

He is our first pick of the associate XI.

Kyle Coetzer (Scotland)

Another Scottish player, Kyle Coetzer is the current skipper of the Scotland international team. He is 37 years old and he was born on April 14, 1984. 

Coetzer was Scotland's leading run-scorer in the 2009 World T20. He has 1386 runs in 56 innings, with a strike rate of 122.01.

Tony Ura (PNG)

Tony Pala Ura from Papua New Guinea, who is the third member of the associate XIs was born on October 15, 1989. Another right-hand wicket-keeper batsman aged 31 began playing cricket at a very young age.

He was a crucial member of the PNG side that reached the U-19 World Cup in 2008. He has 671 T20I runs in 23 innings, and a strike rate of 140.96.

Ben Cooper (Netherlands)

Ben Cooper Associate
Ben Cooper  (Image Credits: CricketCountry)

Benjamin Nicolas Cooper, who is currently 29 years old, was born on February 10, 1992. A left-handed middle-order batsman who has been a key member of the Netherlands squad, Cooper has 1230 runs in 53 innings and a strike rate of 125.

He made his international debut in 2013.

Max O'Dowd (Netherlands)

Born on March 4, 1994, Maxwell Patrick O'Dowd is a 27-year-old right-hand batsman. He has scored 1038 runs in 39 innings for the Netherlands in T20Is, with a strike rate of 125.21.

A part-time right-arm off-break bowler, O-Dowd also has three wickets in T20Is. He made his debut in the year 2015.

Richard Berrington (Scotland)

Richard Berrington Scotland
Richard Berrington (Image Credits: CricketScotland)

Richard Douglas Berrington, born on April 3, 1987, is a 34-year-old all-rounder who has often helped Scotland in numerous ways.

Berrington was the key performer when Scotland registered their first win against an ICC full member, Bangladesh, with Berrington firing a ton in just 56 balls.

Berrington has 1247 runs in T20Is in 54 innings, with a strike rate of 128.95. He has also picked 27 wickets in 37 innings in the same format, and his economy is under 8 too (7.48).

Khawar Ali (Oman)

Born on December 20, 1985, in Pakistan, Khawar Ali plays international cricket for Oman and is 35 years old.

He is a right-hand batsman and a leg-break bowler. He has over 600 runs in 31 innings in T20Is, with a strike rate of 99.66, and he also has 35 wickets in 30 innings in T20Is, with an economy of 6.48. Impressive, isn't it?

Collins Obuya (Kenya)

Collins Obuya Kenya Associate
Collins Obuya (Image Credits: CricketWorld)

The Kenyan cricketer was born on July 27, 1981. Almost 40 years of age, Obuya made his debut in the year 2001 and is still going strong.

Collins first caught everyone's attention in the 2003 World Cup when he picked 13 wickets in the tournament, including a phenomenal 5-24 against the Sri Lankans. Obuya has 691 runs in 33 innings in T20Is, with a strike rate of 106.47, while he also has 23 wickets to his name in just 18 innings. His economy is also below 7 (6.38) which is very impressive.

Mark Watt (Scotland)

Mark Robert James Watt, the 24-year-old took birth on July 29, 1996. He is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler who has 45 wickets in 33 innings in T20Is, with an economy of 7.22.

Alasdair Evans (Scotland)

Alasdair Evans Scotland Assocate
Alasdair Evans (Image Credits: ESPN)

The fifth and the last Scottish player of the XI, Evans was born on January 12, 1989. The 32-year-old is a right-arm medium-fast bowler and he made his debut in the year 2011 against Canada.

He has 36 wickets in 25 innings in T20Is and an economy of 7.40 which is quite impressive in T20s.

Bilal Khan (Oman)

Omani cricketer Bilal Khan is a left-arm medium-fast bowler who was born on April 10, 1988. The 33-year-old has 51 wickets in T20Is in just 34 innings, and his economy is 6.78. This concluded our best XI players from the associate teams.

So what are your thoughts on this XI? Anyone else you would've liked? Let us know via our Instagram and Twitter handles, your suggestions will only help us get better.

Stay tuned for more updates!