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International Cricket Council

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the governing body for international Test match and One-day International cricket. It is headquartered at Lord's cricket ground.

Table of contents
1 Historical background
2 Members
3 Regional Bodies
4 Competitions and awards
5 See also
6 External Link

Historical background

On June 15, 1909 representatives from England, Australia and South Africa met at Lords and founded the Imperial Cricket Conference. Membership was confined to the governing bodies of cricket within the Commonwealth where Test cricket was played.

In 1926, India, New Zealand and West Indies were elected as Full Members, thus increasing the number of Test-playing nations to six.

After the formation of Pakistan in 1947, it was given Test status in 1953 becoming the seventh Test-playing nation. In 1961, South Africa ceased to be a member of the ICC on leaving the British Commonwealth.

In 1965, the Conference was renamed the International Cricket Conference and new rules adopted to permit the election of countries from outside the British Commonwealth. This led to the expansion of the Conference, with the admission of Associate Members. Associates were each entitled to one vote, while the Foundation and Full Members were entitled to two votes on ICC resolutions. Foundation Members retained a right of veto. Sri Lanka was admitted in 1981.

In 1989, new rules were adopted and the name changed to the current name, the International Cricket Council. In 1991, South Africa was re-elected as a Full Member of the ICC, followed by the admission of Zimbabwe in 1992. Rather controversially, Bangladesh was admitted as the tenth Test-playing nation in 2000.

Members

The ICC has three classes of membership: Full Members, Associate Members and Affiliate Members.

Full Members

Full Members are the governing bodies for cricket recognised by ICC of a country, or countries associated for cricket purposes, or a geographical area, from which representative teams are qualified to play official Test matches.

Governing Body Date of joining
Australian cricket team>Australia Cricket Australia June 15, 1909
Bangladeshi cricket team>Bangladesh Bangladesh Cricket Board June 26, 2000
English cricket team>England England and Wales Cricket Board June 15, 1909
Indian cricket team>India Board of Control for Cricket in India May 31, 1926
New Zealand cricket team>New Zealand New Zealand Cricket May 31, 1926
Pakistani cricket team>Pakistan Pakistan Cricket Board July 28, 1953
South African cricket team>South Africa United Cricket Board of South Africa June 15, 1909
readmitted July 10, 1991
Sri Lankan cricket team>Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Cricket July 21, 1981
West Indian cricket team>West Indies West Indies Cricket Board of Control May 31, 1926
Zimbabwean cricket team>Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Cricket Union July 6, 1992

Associate Members

These are countries where cricket is firmly established and organised but do not qualify for Full Membership. There are 27 Associate Members. They are Argentina (1974), Bermuda (1966), Canada (1968), Cayman Islands (2002), Denmark (1966), Fiji (1965), France (1998), Germany (1999), Gibraltar (1969), Hong Kong (1969), Ireland (1993), Israel (1974), Italy (1995), Kenya (1981), Malaysia (1967), Namibia (1992), Nepal (1996), The Netherlands (1966), Nigeria (2002), Papua New Guinea (1973), Scotland (1994), Singapore (1974), Tanzania (2001), Uganda (1998), United Arab Emirates (1990), United States (1965), Zambia (2003).

Affiliate Members

These are countries where the ICC recognises that cricket is played according to the Laws of Cricket.

There are 55 Affiliate Members. For a complete listing, see List of Affiliate Members from ICC website

Regional Bodies

The ICC has set up regional bodies to organize, promote and develop the game of Cricket:

Competitions and awards

The ICC organises various
first-class and one-day cricket competitions: The ICC has instituted the ICC Awards to recognise and honour the best international cricket players of the previous 12 months. The inaugural ICC Awards ceremony will be held on 7 September, 2004, in London.

See also

External Link