The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a USD 12.82 million loan for Cricket West Indies (CWI) as part of a series of governance, membership and financial support decisions taken during its Annual Conference in Edinburgh. The meeting also saw the ICC unveil revamped formats for the men’s ODI and T20 World Cups, alongside several measures aimed at strengthening member boards.
According to Cricbuzz, Mauritius has become the ICC’s 111th member, taking the governing body’s membership tally to 12 Full Members and 99 Associate Members. The ICC also approved the reinstatement conditions for Cricket Canada, which must now be fulfilled before the board’s suspension can be lifted.
Meanwhile, the ICC received an update from Sri Lanka Cricket regarding its proposed revised constitution. However, Sri Lanka Cricket will remain unrepresented at ICC Board meetings until fresh elections are conducted. France Cricket has also been placed on notice for breaching the ICC’s membership criteria.
ICC Extends Financial Support to Cricket West Indies
As part of its member support initiatives, the ICC approved a USD 12.82 million loan for Cricket West Indies to help the board overcome its ongoing financial challenges.
According to CWI’s audited financial statements for the year ending September 30, 2025, the board recorded a net loss of USD 28 million after posting a USD 24 million profit the previous year. It has also projected a further loss of USD 26 million during the 2026 financial cycle. The statements had indicated that funding from the ICC, along with commercial bank loans, would be required to bridge the financial gap.
This is not the first time CWI has received financial assistance. In 2012, the then West Indies Cricket Board received funding support from the ICC alongside Zimbabwe Cricket. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also extended a USD 3 million loan to CWI, which was later repaid in full.
ICC Forms Two New Committees
The ICC Board also announced the formation of two new subcommittees to strengthen governance and oversee the growth of franchise cricket worldwide.
The Governance Review Committee will comprise Devajit Saikia (BCCI), Dr Mohammed Moosajee (Cricket South Africa) and ICC Independent Director Dr Ros Rivaz.
The newly formed Franchise League Committee will be chaired by Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh Cricket Board) and include Dr Rudie van Vuuren (Cricket Namibia), Devajit Saikia (BCCI), Richard Gould (England and Wales Cricket Board) and Todd Greenberg (Cricket Australia). The committee will focus on matters related to the rapidly expanding franchise cricket landscape across the globe.
