The ICC, originally known as the Imperial Cricket Conference, was founded on June 15, 1909, with England, Australia, and South Africa as its first members. Its purpose was to unify cricket rules across member countries. Over time, it became the ICC and expanded, now having 108 members: 12 full members and 96 associates.
List of Test-Playing Nations
Full members, or Test-playing nations, are countries eligible to play official Test matches, the most traditional format of cricket. They also have voting rights in ICC meetings where key decisions are made regarding cricket’s governance and rules. Additionally, full members automatically qualify for ODIs and T20Is, giving them frequent chances to compete in international tournaments.
Here is a list of the current full members:
| Sr. No. | Team | Full Member Since | Test Status Since | Governing Body |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zimbabwe | 6 July 1992 | 18 October 1992 | Zimbabwe Cricket |
| 2 | West Indies | 31 May 1926 | 10 January 1930 | Cricket West Indies |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 21 July 1981 | 17 February 1982 | Sri Lanka Cricket |
| 4 | South Africa | 15 June 1909 | 12 March 1889 | Cricket South Africa |
| 5 | Pakistan | 28 July 1952 | 16 October 1952 | Pakistan Cricket Board |
| 6 | New Zealand | 31 May 1926 | 10 January 1930 | New Zealand Cricket |
| 7 | Ireland | 22 June 2017 | 11 May 2018 | Cricket Ireland |
| 8 | India | 31 May 1926 | 25 June 1932 | Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) |
| 9 | England | 15 June 1909 | 15 March 1877 | England and Wales Cricket Board |
| 10 | Bangladesh | 26 June 2000 | 10 November 2000 | Bangladesh Cricket Board |
| 11 | Australia | 15 June 1909 | 15 March 1877 | Cricket Australia |
| 12 | Afghanistan | 22 June 2017 | 14 June 2018 | Afghanistan Cricket Board |
Associate Members
Associate members are nations where cricket is well-established but they do not meet the criteria to become full members. While they don’t have voting rights or the ability to play Test matches, they still participate in other international events like ODIs and T20Is.
ALSO READ: Neymar vs Kylian Mbappé: The Clash of Football Titans
Here is a selection of associate members:
| Sr. No. | Country | Governing Body | Associate Member Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | Argentine Cricket Association | 1974 |
| 2 | Austria | Austrian Cricket Association | 2017 |
| 3 | Canada | Cricket Canada | 1968 |
| 4 | Nepal | Cricket Association of Nepal | 1996 |
| 5 | United States | USA Cricket | 1965/2019 |
| 6 | Germany | German Cricket Federation | 1999 |
| 7 | Kenya | Cricket Kenya | 1981 |
| 8 | Malaysia | Malaysian Cricket Association | 1967 |
Overview of Test-Playing Nations
The following section highlights a few Test-playing nations:
- Afghanistan: Achieved full membership in 2017 after becoming an ICC affiliate in 2001. They played their first Test match in 2018.
- Bangladesh: Gained full membership in 2000 and played their first Test match the same year.
- Sri Lanka: Joined as a full member in 1981, and have since won the ICC World Cup in 1996 and the T20 World Cup in 2014.
- New Zealand: Became a full member in 1926, with their first Test win coming in 1956.
- West Indies: One of the founding members of the ICC, they dominated world cricket from the 1970s to the early 1990s.
Full members continue to shape international cricket, while associate members strive to reach that level, actively participating in global competitions.
READ MORE:
