The International Cricket Council (ICC) was established on June 15, 1909, originally as the Imperial Cricket Conference, with founding members England, Australia, and South Africa. Its main goal was to unify cricket rules and regulations among member nations. Over time, the ICC expanded and now boasts 108 member nations, including 12 full members and 96 associate members.
Full Members of the ICC
Full members, often referred to as Test-playing nations, are granted the right to participate in official Test matches, the most traditional format of cricket. They also have voting rights at ICC meetings, where critical decisions about the sport’s administration and governance are made. In addition, full members are automatically eligible to compete in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
Associate Members of the ICC
Associate members represent countries where cricket has developed a solid foundation but has not yet reached the criteria for full membership. While they do not have the same rights as full members, such as participation in Test matches and voting privileges, these countries are still active in ICC tournaments and continue to work toward achieving full membership.
List of Associate Members of the ICC:-
Afghanistan National Cricket Team
Afghanistan’s national cricket team represents the country on the international stage. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was founded in 1995, receiving affiliate membership in the ICC by 2001. On June 22, 2017, Afghanistan was granted full membership, becoming eligible for Test cricket.
Bangladesh National Cricket Team
Bangladesh became an associate member in 1977 and achieved full membership in 2000. Their first Test match was against India in November 2000, following their first ODI against Pakistan in 1986.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team
Sri Lanka achieved associate membership with the ICC in 1965 and earned Test status in 1981. They have won the 1996 World Cup, the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup, and shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with India.
New Zealand National Cricket Team
New Zealand joined the ICC as a full member in 1926. After playing their first Test in 1930, they waited until 1956 to secure their first Test victory. They won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.
West Indies National Cricket Team
The West Indies, a full member since 1926, dominated international cricket in the 1970s and 1980s. They have won two ODI World Cups (1975, 1979) and two T20 World Cups (2012, 2016).
Ireland National Cricket Team
Ireland became a full ICC member in 2017 and played their first Test against Pakistan in May 2018. They have participated in multiple editions of both the T20 and ODI World Cups.
Zimbabwe National Cricket Team
Zimbabwe became a full ICC member in 1992 and has participated in nine World Cups. Their best performances were in the 1999 and 2003 editions when they reached the Super Six stage.
Pakistan National Cricket Team
Pakistan has been a full ICC member since 1952. They have won the ODI World Cup (1992), the T20 World Cup (2009), and the ICC Champions Trophy (2017).
Indian National Cricket Team
India achieved Test status in 1926 and has won the ODI World Cup twice (1983, 2011), the T20 World Cup (2007), and the ICC Champions Trophy twice (2002, 2013).
Australian National Cricket Team
Australia, one of the oldest cricketing nations, has won the ODI World Cup five times and the T20 World Cup once in 2021. They have dominated the ODI World Cup finals, appearing in seven.
England National Cricket Team
England contested the first-ever Test match in 1877. They have won the ODI World Cup once (2019) and the T20 World Cup twice (2010, 2022).
South African National Cricket Team
South Africa, a full ICC member since 1909, was excluded from international cricket due to apartheid policies from 1970 to 1991. Since reintegration, they have won the 1998 ICC Champions Trophy and reached multiple World Cup semi-finals.