Governing Bodies of Cricket

International Cricket Council

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the governing body for Test Match and One Day International cricket. It:

Oversees the organisation of international matches, series, and tournaments.
Sets consistent rules and regulations for international matches.
Sets and enforces guidelines on professional conduct of players and officials.
Organises an international panel of umpires and match referees to officiate in Test and ODI matches.
Maintains official Test and ODI team rankings in a championship system.
Promotes the development of cricket as a world sport.
Organises developmental tournaments for nations without Test status.
Maintains the spirit of the game of cricket.
Conducts inquiries into allegations of corruption in professional cricket.
Works to ensure commercial success for professional cricket.

Governing bodies for organised cricket played in a country, a group of countries affiliated for cricket purposes, or a geographical region may apply for and be granted membership of the ICC at three tiers of membership:

Full Members - Nations qualified to play official Test matches, by virtue of being able to field a team strong enough to compete against other Test teams and having established cricket organisation and development programs.
Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe.
Associate Members - Nations where the ICC recognises that organised cricket is played and firmly established.
Argentina, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nigeria, Netherlands, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Zambia.
Affiliate Members - Nations where the ICC recognises that cricket is played in accordance with the Laws of Cricket.
Afghanistan, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Isle of Man, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Norway, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Spain, St Helena, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Vanuatu.

Full members have one representative each on the ICC Executive Board, Management Committee, and Playing Committee. Associate members between them elect three representatives to each of these groups. Affiliate members do not have voting or representative rights within the ICC.

Moving up the membership tiers is achieved by nations applying for membership at the next highest level. Their application is considered and voted on by the ICC Board based on the appropriate membership criteria. The Associate Members pushing hardest for Test status are, in approximate order: Kenya, Netherlands, Canada, Scotland, Namibia, USA, UAE.

External link:

International Cricket Council.

National Cricket Boards

The national cricket boards for the Test nations are responsible for organising cricket within their nation. This includes:

Arranging international matches, first class tour matches, and practice matches for touring sides.
Arranging tours to other cricket-playing nations.
Organising domestic first class and list A one-day cricket.
Overseeing lower levels of organised cricket that feed players and officials into the professional levels.
Running a cricket talent development program to recognise and nurture talented players from youth level.
Promoting cricket within the nation at all levels, from international and first class to amateur, youth, and school cricket.

Some national boards are also responsible for promoting cricket in non-Test nations in their immediate surrounding geographical region of the world.

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