In a significant move towards enhancing governance within the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Board has recommended changing the term structure for the ICC chair and independent director positions. Jay Shah, who is set to take over as ICC chair on December 1, could serve two consecutive three-year terms, a shift from the current format of three two-year terms. This recommendation aims to provide greater stability and continuity within the organization.
The ICC announced that the proposal would be circulated for approval among its Full and Associate Members following discussions held in Dubai over the weekend. While the specific reasons for this change were not disclosed, it is believed to align with the ICC’s broader goal of improving governance. The Board envisions that this adjustment will reduce the frequency of elections, allowing both the chair and the independent director to focus on long-term objectives without the pressures of biennial elections.
At 35 years old, Shah was elected unopposed to succeed Greg Barclay, who has served two of his three terms since first being elected in 2020. The position of independent director has been vacant since former Pepsico chair Indra Nooyi completed her tenure earlier this summer.
Changes in the Men’s Cricket Committee
In addition to the chair’s term adjustments, the ICC Board also announced updates to the men’s cricket committee. New Zealand businessman Scott Weenink has been appointed as the Full Member representative, while Scott Edwards, the 28-year-old captain of the Netherlands, will serve as the Associate Member representative.
Women’s Future Tours Programme to be Announced
The ICC has also approved the next women’s future tours program (FTP) for the 2025-2029 cycle, which is set to be announced in the coming days. This FTP will be the second for women, following the one introduced in 2022. The ICC chief executives’ committee has decided to shift the annual update of the women’s rankings from October 1 to May 1. This change will require teams to play a minimum of eight matches per format (ODIs and T20Is), an increase from the previous requirement of six, to ensure that the rankings accurately reflect the growing volume of women’s cricket.
Formalization of ODI Status for Associate Teams
The process for Associate teams to gain ODI status has also been formalized. Currently, 16 women’s teams hold ODI status, including 11 Full Members and five Associate Members: Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand, and the USA. For the upcoming 2025-2029 cycle, the top two Associate teams qualifying for the women’s ODI World Cup qualifier in 2025 will secure ODI status. The remaining three slots will be filled based on T20I rankings at the time of the annual update on May 1, 2025.
New T20I Tournaments for Associate Teams
To bolster competition among Associate teams, the ICC has approved the creation of two annual T20I tournaments from 2025 to 2028. This initiative aims to enhance competitiveness ahead of the 16-team women’s T20 World Cup scheduled for 2030.
As these changes unfold, the ICC continues to focus on fostering an environment that promotes the growth and development of cricket globally, particularly in women’s and Associate cricket.
