ICC Structure, Committees and Decision-Making

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket. It regulates membership, oversees major tournaments, and frames decisions through its Board, committees, and constitutional voting rules.

Membership Structure and Classification

The ICC’s membership is divided into two broad categories. This classification affects voting rights, access to funding, and the route to participation in global cricket events.

• Full Members: National boards with Test status and direct voting rights on major policy matters.
• Associate Members: Member nations without automatic Test status.
• Total membership: The ICC comprises 111 member nations, including 12 Full Members and 99 Associate Members.
• Financial allocation: Membership status influences a board’s share in ICC surplus distribution and development support.
• Mauritius: Mauritius was admitted as the 111th member of the ICC during the Annual Conference in July 2026.
• Cricket Canada: Cricket Canada remains suspended from ICC membership, though its national teams are eligible to take part in ICC events under a controlled funding mechanism.
• Sri Lanka Cricket: Sri Lanka Cricket is unable to be represented at ICC Board meetings because its administration is being managed by a government-appointed interim Transformation Committee.
• France Cricket: France Cricket is on notice for breaches of ICC Membership Criteria and must take corrective measures to retain its standing.

The ICC Board and Leadership Structure

The ICC Board is the top policy-making body of the council. It handles overall direction, financial supervision, and major governance matters.

• Chairman: Jay Shah serves as Chairman of the ICC, having assumed office on December 1, 2024.
• Deputy Chairman: Imran Khwaja serves as Deputy Chairman and assists in presiding over general meetings and Board sessions.
• Chief Executive Officer: Sanjog Gupta is the ICC CEO, taking office on July 7, 2025, and overseeing daily operations.
• Board composition: The ICC Board has 17 directors: the Independent Chair, 12 Full Member representatives, three Associate Member directors, and one Independent Female Director.
• Non-voting participation: The CEO attends Board meetings in a non-voting capacity, maintaining a separation between executive administration and voting authority.
• Meetings: The Board meets multiple times a year to discuss global strategy, finance, and tournament scheduling.

Decision-Making and Constitutional Provisions

The ICC functions under a formal constitution that defines how resolutions are passed and how voting rights are exercised. The structure is designed to balance the influence of member groups and prevent unilateral control.

Article 4.9 of the ICC Constitution requires a two-thirds majority of voting members present and voting for a Board resolution to pass.

• Equal voting: Each Full Member has an equal vote on major policy matters.
• Associate representation: Associate Members are represented through elected directors.
• Voting threshold: A two-thirds majority is needed for Board resolutions.
• Scope of application: This rule applies to important matters such as constitutional amendments, membership changes, and major financial allocations.
• Purpose: The high threshold helps prevent dominance by any single bloc of member nations.

Specialized Committees and Operational Governance

To handle technical, commercial, and governance matters, the ICC relies on specialized committees that report to the Board. These bodies examine issues in detail before final approval by the Board.

• Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC): Chaired by the ICC CEO, it oversees operational, commercial, and administrative aspects of international cricket.
• Governance Review Committee: Established by the ICC Board in July 2026 and chaired by Devajit Saikia.
• Governance Review Committee members: Dr. Mohammed Moosajee and Dr. Ros Rivaz serve as members.
• Franchise Leagues Committee: Established in July 2026 and chaired by Tamim Iqbal.
• Franchise Leagues Committee members: Devajit Saikia, Dr. Rudie van Vuuren, Richard Gould, and Todd Greenberg are members.
• Men’s Cricket Committee: Sourav Ganguly chairs the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee, which focuses on playing conditions, rules, and development.
• Women’s Cricket Committee: Clare Connor chairs the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee, with a similar focus on rules, conditions, and development.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• Total membership: 111 members, including 12 Full Members and 99 Associate Members.
• Full Members: Hold Test status and direct voting rights on major policy decisions.
• Board strength: The ICC Board has 17 directors, including the Independent Chair, 12 Full Member representatives, three Associate Member directors, and one Independent Female Director.
• CEO role: The ICC CEO attends Board meetings without voting rights.
• Voting rule: Article 4.9 requires a two-thirds majority of voting members present and voting.
• New bodies: The Governance Review Committee and Franchise Leagues Committee were established in July 2026.
• Leadership: Jay Shah is Chairman, Imran Khwaja is Deputy Chairman, and Sanjog Gupta is CEO.