KABUL (SW): In a landmark development, Afghanistan has finally become Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as this world body acknowledged rapid growth and potential for this sport.
Following the ICC Full Council meeting at the Oval in England on Thursday, Afghanistan and Ireland were confirmed as Full Members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after a unanimous vote. Both will now be eligible to play Test cricket with the top teams of the game which means more matches, more exposure and ultimately more fun for millions of their supporters.
David Richardson, the ICC Chief Executive has hailed the dedication to improving performance both off and on the field of both Afghanistan and Ireland. “Both have clearly demonstrated they meet the new criteria and as such have made the progression to Full Membership,” he said while announcing the decision.
The ICC currently has 105 members and membership is a hierarchy system. There are three categories of membership: Full Members, Associate Members, and Affiliate Members. In the highest category, there are 12 Full Members; the 2nd category has 37 Associate Members and lowest category has 56 Affiliate Members. The Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed in 1995 and became an Affiliate Member of the ICC in 2001 and was awarded Associate Member status in 2013.
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