ICC suspends Cricket Canada over governance breaches, national teams remain eligible for events
The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Cricket Canada with immediate effect for serious breaches of its membership obligations following the conclusion of its Board meetings in Ahmedabad.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday suspended Cricket Canada's membership with immediate effect after finding serious breaches of its membership obligations, following Board meetings held in Ahmedabad.
The decision was among a series of measures approved by the ICC Board aimed at strengthening governance, supporting women's cricket, improving global competition structures and encouraging innovation across the sport.
Despite the suspension, the ICC said it was committed to protecting Canadian players from the fallout of the governance issues affecting the national governing body. As a result, Canada's national representative teams will remain eligible to participate in ICC events during the suspension period.
To ensure the continued development and participation of the national teams, Cricket Canada will retain access to ICC funding through a controlled mechanism overseen by ICC management. The funding will be restricted to approved national team programmes.
The ICC will also provide Cricket Canada with a set of conditions for reinstatement, focused on addressing the governance and administrative concerns identified by the Board. Progress on those requirements will be monitored by the ICC Normalisation Committee, supported by ICC management, with membership restoration dependent on the Board's satisfaction that all conditions have been fulfilled.
The Board also approved several recommendations from the Chief Executives Committee. Among them was a trial allowing the use of a pink ball in Test matches, subject to agreement between both teams, to maximise playing time in conditions where bad light could otherwise disrupt play. The ICC will also undertake research into lighting technology for match officials and venues in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), while match officials will be allowed access to Hawk-Eye data when considering reports of illegal bowling actions.
Other playing-condition changes include allowing head coaches or their nominees to consult teams during scheduled drinks breaks, introducing mandatory 15-minute intervals in T20 internationals and requiring batters to be ready when play resumes. The ICC has also permanently adopted the leg-side wides trial and approved all remaining MCC Laws of Cricket changes from October 1, 2026.
In women's cricket, the ICC shifted the Women's Champions Trophy 2027 window from June-July to February 14-28, 2027. The governing body will also launch the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in 2026 as a 10-team tournament featuring five Full Members and five Associate Members. The Board further endorsed the qualification pathway for the Women's T20 World Cup 2028, which will be hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board, with India's matches to be played at a neutral venue.
For Associate Members, the ICC approved plans to establish a global qualifier for future Men's T20 World Cups and tasked management with finalising the structure for a 16-team qualifying tournament.
The Board also reviewed governance matters in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Representatives from the ICC are scheduled to visit Bangladesh to engage with stakeholders regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board's electoral process, while ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja and Devajit Saikia have already met stakeholders in Sri Lanka to assess developments there.
The ICC additionally expressed concern over the growing footprint of franchise cricket and agreed to establish a committee to examine how franchise leagues can be better aligned with the international calendar.
ICC chairman Jay Shah said the discussions in Ahmedabad reflected the governing body's commitment to governance, administration and the global growth of the sport.
"Our discussions in Ahmedabad have reinforced the ICC's commitment to governance, administration and the growth of cricket globally. From women's cricket and emerging nations to the management of franchise competitions, today's discussions and decisions aim to ensure that cricket remains fair, competitive, and exciting for fans worldwide," Shah said.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday suspended Cricket Canada's membership with immediate effect after finding serious breaches of its membership obligations, following Board meetings held in Ahmedabad.
The decision was among a series of measures approved by the ICC Board aimed at strengthening governance, supporting women's cricket, improving global competition structures and encouraging innovation across the sport.
Despite the suspension, the ICC said it was committed to protecting Canadian players from the fallout of the governance issues affecting the national governing body. As a result, Canada's national representative teams will remain eligible to participate in ICC events during the suspension period.
To ensure the continued development and participation of the national teams, Cricket Canada will retain access to ICC funding through a controlled mechanism overseen by ICC management. The funding will be restricted to approved national team programmes.
The ICC will also provide Cricket Canada with a set of conditions for reinstatement, focused on addressing the governance and administrative concerns identified by the Board. Progress on those requirements will be monitored by the ICC Normalisation Committee, supported by ICC management, with membership restoration dependent on the Board's satisfaction that all conditions have been fulfilled.
The Board also approved several recommendations from the Chief Executives Committee. Among them was a trial allowing the use of a pink ball in Test matches, subject to agreement between both teams, to maximise playing time in conditions where bad light could otherwise disrupt play. The ICC will also undertake research into lighting technology for match officials and venues in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), while match officials will be allowed access to Hawk-Eye data when considering reports of illegal bowling actions.
Other playing-condition changes include allowing head coaches or their nominees to consult teams during scheduled drinks breaks, introducing mandatory 15-minute intervals in T20 internationals and requiring batters to be ready when play resumes. The ICC has also permanently adopted the leg-side wides trial and approved all remaining MCC Laws of Cricket changes from October 1, 2026.
In women's cricket, the ICC shifted the Women's Champions Trophy 2027 window from June-July to February 14-28, 2027. The governing body will also launch the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in 2026 as a 10-team tournament featuring five Full Members and five Associate Members. The Board further endorsed the qualification pathway for the Women's T20 World Cup 2028, which will be hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board, with India's matches to be played at a neutral venue.
For Associate Members, the ICC approved plans to establish a global qualifier for future Men's T20 World Cups and tasked management with finalising the structure for a 16-team qualifying tournament.
The Board also reviewed governance matters in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Representatives from the ICC are scheduled to visit Bangladesh to engage with stakeholders regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board's electoral process, while ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja and Devajit Saikia have already met stakeholders in Sri Lanka to assess developments there.
The ICC additionally expressed concern over the growing footprint of franchise cricket and agreed to establish a committee to examine how franchise leagues can be better aligned with the international calendar.
ICC chairman Jay Shah said the discussions in Ahmedabad reflected the governing body's commitment to governance, administration and the global growth of the sport.
"Our discussions in Ahmedabad have reinforced the ICC's commitment to governance, administration and the growth of cricket globally. From women's cricket and emerging nations to the management of franchise competitions, today's discussions and decisions aim to ensure that cricket remains fair, competitive, and exciting for fans worldwide," Shah said.
