The cricket boards of Scotland and the Netherlands have issued a joint statement criticizing the International Cricket Council (ICC) for structural changes made to the men's 50-over World Cup. The two nations, identified as the highest-ranked associate members of the ICC, argue that these alterations represent a "setback" for associate members and could "risk undermining the progress made in recent years to grow the global game."
The statement highlighted that at a time when cricket is striving to expand its reach and attract new audiences, reducing meaningful opportunities for emerging nations sends an inappropriate message. The boards called for the ICC to "re-engage with associate members" in an "open" manner to foster the sport's development beyond its full members.
Leaders in cricket have frequently voiced ambitions for the sport to become truly global. The statement emphasized that providing emerging nations with genuine opportunities to qualify for and compete in major events is fundamental to achieving this goal. Decisions that limit these opportunities, it argued, slow the progress of expanding the game's reach and appeal, running counter to stated ambitions.
BBC Sport understands that proposals for a single class of membership, rather than distinct associate and full member categories, were discussed at the 2025 ICC annual conference but did not advance. The decision by Scotland and the Netherlands to release such a pointed statement reflects frustrations among non-full members regarding various aspects of ICC decision-making.