Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to end the longstanding supremacy of its full members, marking a historic shift in international cricket governance. According to new recommendations from the ICC governance working group, each member board will now be subject to review every five years, and financial accountability will be strictly monitored. This move signals the end of the 'Big Three' era and the dominance held by full members who have long run the ICC like an exclusive club. The governance reforms, sent to all member boards, propose that full membership will now be open to all, with affiliate status eliminated. Only two membership tiers—full and associate—will remain. Full members will be reviewed every five years, associates every two years, with particular attention given to how ICC funds are allocated and spent. The proposal further states that full member status will no longer be permanent. Members who fail to meet set standards could be demoted to associate status based on the membership committee's recommendations. The ICC executive board will expand to 15 directors: 10 heads of full member boards, 3 associate chairmen, the ICC chairman, and one independent director. All will have voting rights, with a minimum of 10 votes required to approve any resolution. Additionally, it is recommended that secret ballots be allowed upon request for any issue, helping prevent coercion or undue pressure between boards. This set of reforms aims to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and fairness in the governance of world cricket.
