From an Imperial Club to the World’s Second-Biggest Sports Show
You know the Cricket World Cup. You’ve probably heard the buzz about cricket finally returning to the Olympics. But have you ever stopped to think about the organization pulling all the strings behind the scenes?
This is the story of the ICC. It’s a tale that starts in a meeting room at Lord’s Cricket Ground with just three founding members and stretches across the globe to 106 nations today. From colonial clubs to billion-dollar media deals, from a sport that once banned South Africa to a governing body that now rakes in nearly $800 million a year, the International Cricket Council has evolved into one of the most powerful sports organizations on the planet.
But here’s what’s really fascinating: cricket has over two billion fans worldwide—making it the second-most popular sport on Earth behind soccer. And yet, the ICC has only 12 Full Members who play Test cricket and 94 Associate Members who are still fighting for a seat at the table . It’s a story of inclusion and exclusion, money and power, and the struggle to balance tradition with growth.
Let’s dive into how it all started, where it’s going, and why it matters to anyone who loves the sport.
Introduction: More Than Just a Trophy
If you’re an American sports fan, the ICC might be a bit of a mystery. Unlike the NFL or NBA, which are purely domestic, the ICC is an international governing body. It’s like FIFA, but for cricket. It sets the rules, organizes the big tournaments, and oversees everything from the grassroots to the elite level.
The ICC is also a study in contrasts. On one hand, it’s a non-profit organization dedicated to growing the game. On the other, it’s sitting on nearly $1.2 billion in reserves and distributing massive sums to its member nations . It’s a global body that’s been accused of being captured by its most powerful members—particularly India, which generates around 80% of the ICC’s media revenue .
The 2026 ICC Annual General Meeting just wrapped up in Edinburgh, where they welcomed Mauritius as the newest member and discussed expanding their powers to tackle corruption in franchise cricket . The ICC is constantly adapting, constantly evolving, and constantly trying to balance the competing interests of its 106 members.
So, who exactly runs world cricket? Let’s go back to the beginning.
Early Life & Background: Born at Lord’s
The Year Was 1909
Picture this: it’s June 15, 1909, at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Representatives from three countries—England, Australia, and South Africa—sit down and agree to form the Imperial Cricket Conference . The name says it all. It was an organization for the British Empire’s cricket-playing nations. Membership was restricted to countries within the Empire, and it was a tight little club.
The three founding members had been playing Test cricket against each other since 1877 (Australia) and 1889 (South Africa). They figured it was time to formalize things. But this wasn’t a global body in any real sense. It was an exclusive club for white, Commonwealth nations.
The Slow Expansion
In 1926, membership expanded. India, New Zealand, and the West Indies were elected as Full Members, bringing the total Test-playing nations to six . Pakistan joined in 1952 after the partition of India.
But South Africa’s membership ended in 1961 when it left the Commonwealth due to its apartheid policies. The ICC was, at this point, still very much tied to the British Empire. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the organization began to truly globalize.
The 1965 Rebrand
In July 1965, the organization changed its name to the International Cricket Conference . More importantly, they allowed countries from outside the Commonwealth to join for the first time. The United States and Fiji became the first Associate Members, but they had limited voting rights .
The founders—England, Australia, and South Africa—retained a veto over all resolutions. The old colonial power structure was still intact.
The 1989 Rebrand and The Modern Era
In 1989, the organization changed its name one more time to the International Cricket Council . This was a major shift. The new rules allowed the ICC to make binding decisions rather than just recommendations. The Foundation Member category was abolished. The ICC was becoming a real governing body.
The organization also moved its headquarters from Lord’s to Dubai in 2005, where it remains today . The move was about tax advantages and organizational efficiency, but it also symbolized a shift in power away from England toward the emerging cricketing hubs of Asia and the Middle East.
Education: Learning How to Govern
If we think of the ICC as a student, it’s had to learn some hard lessons. For decades, it was essentially a talking shop—a place where the major cricketing nations discussed bilateral tours. It wasn’t until the 1990s that the ICC became a professional organization.
The Key Milestones in Its “Education”:
1993: The First Independent Secretariat
For its first 80 years, the ICC was administered by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord’s. In 1993, it finally established its own secretariat and hired its first chief executive—Dave Richards from Australia .
1997: Incorporated Body
The ICC became an incorporated body with an executive board and a president instead of a chairman .
2005: Dubai Move
The ICC moved its headquarters to Dubai, establishing its own base of operations.
2017: Presidency Abolished
The post of president, which had existed since 1989, was abolished in favor of an independent chairman . The last president was Zaheer Abbas of Pakistan.
The ICC has learned that running a global sport requires more than just goodwill—it requires money, governance, and a clear structure. But learning to be a proper governing body has been a long, often painful, process.
Career & Achievements: Building the World’s Game
The First World Cups
The Women Led the Way (1973):
Before the men even thought about it, the International Women’s Cricket Council organized the first Women’s Cricket World Cup in 1973—two years before the men’s tournament . It was a pioneering moment that often gets overlooked. The women’s and men’s governing bodies would eventually merge in 2005 to form the unified ICC we know today.
The Men’s World Cup (1975):
The first Men’s Cricket World Cup was held in England in 1975. The West Indies won, beating Australia in the final at Lord’s . The tournament was a huge success.
Since then, the World Cup has grown into one of the world’s most-watched sporting events. It’s now second only to the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics in terms of global viewership .
Expanding the World Cup
The World Cup format has evolved over time:
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1975-1983: Eight teams, played in England
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1987: First tournament outside England (India and Pakistan co-hosted)
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1992: Colored kits, white balls, and day/night matches introduced
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2003: Fourteen teams
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2019: Back to ten teams
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2027: Expected to return to fourteen teams
The T20 Revolution
The shortest format of the game—Twenty20 (T20)—has exploded in popularity. The ICC introduced the T20 World Cup in 2007, and it’s been a massive hit. India won the first one . The format has brought new audiences to the game, especially in countries where cricket was previously a niche sport.
The World Test Championship
In 2019, the ICC introduced the World Test Championship (WTC), a league-style competition that finally gave context to Test cricket. New Zealand won the first WTC final in 2021, Australia won in 2023, and South Africa won in 2025, ending a 27-year trophy drought .
The Olympic Dream
The ICC has been working to get cricket back into the Olympics since the early 2000s. In 2022, the LA 2028 Organizing Committee shortlisted cricket as one of nine proposed sports. At the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, the IOC approved Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket for the 2028 Olympics . It’s a major victory for the ICC and a huge opportunity to grow the game in markets like the United States.
Corporate Growth and TV Rights
The ICC’s real success is measured in dollars. In 2024, the ICC reported total revenue of $777.9 million and a net surplus of $474 million . In 2025, revenue dipped slightly to $756.3 million, but the surplus rose to $543.3 million, helped by lower event costs .
The ICC’s India media rights deal is the crown jewel. For the 2024-27 cycle, JioStar India acquired the rights for $3 billion . India accounts for nearly 75% of the ICC’s media rights value . This financial muscle gives the ICC the power to grow the game, but it also creates tensions with smaller nations.
Personal Life: The “Big Three” and the Rift
The ICC’s “personality” is complicated. It’s a global body that represents 106 countries. But in recent years, it’s been accused of becoming a “BCCI satellite”—a puppet of the Board of Control for Cricket in India .
The “Big Three” Control
In 2014, the ICC was effectively taken over by the “Big Three”—India, Australia, and England—who pushed through a revenue model that gave them a larger share of the pie. The current 2024-27 revenue model gives the BCCI a staggering 38.5% of the ICC’s revenue, while Pakistan gets 5.75% .
The Governance Debate
In 2026, the ICC’s governance came under fire again. Former ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat and other senior administrators called for a radical overhaul, accusing the global body of being “structurally captured” by the sport’s most powerful boards .
The controversy over Bangladesh’s removal from the 2026 T20 World Cup was cited as evidence. Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland, and critics alleged the decision was a “disciplinary hit-job” .
The Corruption Threat
The ICC’s integrity unit has reported “significant corruption concerns” in franchise tournaments around the globe, with “growing evidence” that corrupters were “infiltrating leagues and players” . The ICC is planning to establish a working party to tackle the issue.
The Latest: Mauritius Joins
At the 2026 AGM, the ICC formally ratified Mauritius as its newest member. Applications from Colombia, Poland, Latvia, Burundi, and Burkina Faso were turned down. USA Cricket and Cricket Canada remain suspended over governance issues .
Net Worth (Approximate)
Let’s talk money. The ICC is a non-profit organization, but it has the financial muscle of a Fortune 500 company.
Revenue
2024
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Total Revenue: $777.9 million
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Event Revenue: $728.5 million
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Net Surplus: $474 million
2025
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Total Revenue: $756.3 million (down 2.6%)
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Event Revenue: $706.1 million
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Net Surplus: $543.3 million (up 15%)
Major Sponsors
The ICC’s major sponsors include Emirates, Saudi Aramco, DP World, Hyundai, and Coca-Cola .
The Media Rights Deal
The ICC’s India media rights deal with JioStar India is worth $3 billion for the 2024-27 cycle. India generates nearly 75% of the ICC’s media rights value .
Reserves
ICC members’ funds nearly doubled to $1.11 billion in 2025 from $564.5 million the previous year .
What This Means
The ICC is financially healthy, but it’s heavily dependent on one market—India. The ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta has said the organization needs to diversify its revenue streams beyond media rights, focusing on matchday revenue and data commercialisation .
Legacy & Impact: Growing the Game, Managing the Game
The World Cup’s Cultural Impact
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship event of international cricket. It’s a tournament that has produced iconic moments—from Kapil Dev’s catch in 1983 to the tied final in 2019. It’s the event that made India a cricketing superpower and gave nations like Sri Lanka and Pakistan their moments of glory.
The Cricket World Cup is now the third most-watched sporting event in the world, trailing only the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics .
The T20 Boom
The T20 World Cup has brought new fans to the game. The shorter format is easier to understand and more accessible to casual viewers. It’s also been a key driver of franchise leagues around the world, though those leagues are now creating governance challenges for the ICC .
The Governance Criticism
The ICC’s greatest failure has been its governance. Critics say the ICC has become a tool of the Big Three, particularly India. The organization’s own former CEO has called for a “radical governance overhaul” and the decoupling of national boards from the global governance structure .
The Olympic Return
Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics could be the ICC’s most significant achievement yet. It opens up the sport to a massive new audience, particularly in the United States, and gives the ICC a platform to grow the game like never before.
What We Learn from the ICC
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Globalization is Messy: Taking a sport global is harder than it looks. The ICC has tried to grow the game, but it’s had to navigate competing interests, cultural differences, and political tensions.
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Money Brings Power, and Power Brings Problems: The ICC’s financial success is undeniable, but it has also created resentment and accusations of unfairness.
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Tradition vs. Innovation: The ICC has had to balance the traditionalists who love Test cricket with the modernists who want shorter formats and new markets.
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Governance Matters: The corruption scandals and governance criticism show that an organization is only as strong as its governance. Without trust, even the most successful organization can be undermined.
Social Media Links
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Website: icc-cricket.com
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Instagram: @icc
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X (formerly Twitter): @ICC
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YouTube: @ICC
10 Unknown Facts About the ICC
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The First World Cup was Women’s: Before the men’s 1975 World Cup, the International Women’s Cricket Council held their own World Cup in 1973 .
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The Name Has Changed Three Times: Founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference (1909), renamed the International Cricket Conference (1965), and finally the International Cricket Council (1989) .
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England, Australia, and South Africa Founded It: Three nations signed the original agreement on June 15, 1909 .
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A Club Represented Spain at the Founding: Wait, no, that’s FIFA. For cricket, the three founding members were England, Australia, and South Africa.
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Fiji and USA Were the First Associate Members: In 1965, the United States and Fiji became the first Associate Members, but they had limited voting rights .
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It Was Administered by MCC for 80 Years: The ICC didn’t have its own independent secretariat until 1993 .
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The President’s Role Was Created and Then Abolished: The post of president was created in 1989 and abolished in 2017 .
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The ICC HQ Moved to Dubai in 2005: Tax advantages were a key reason for the move .
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Cricket Had One Previous Olympic Appearance: Cricket was only played at the Olympics once before—at the 1900 Paris Games .
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**The ICC Generates $700M+ Annually:** In 2024, total revenue was $777.9 million .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What does ICC stand for?
ICC stands for the International Cricket Council.
2. When was the ICC founded?
The ICC was founded on June 15, 1909, as the Imperial Cricket Conference .
3. How many member nations does the ICC have?
The ICC has 106 members as of 2026: 12 Full Members and 94 Associate Members .
4. Where is the ICC headquarters?
The ICC is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates .
5. What tournaments does the ICC organize?
The ICC organizes the Men’s and Women’s Cricket World Cups, the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, and the World Test Championship, among others .
6. Which country has won the most ICC trophies?
Australia leads with 10 ICC titles across all formats, followed by India with 7 and the West Indies with 5 .
7. Is cricket returning to the Olympics?
Yes. Cricket has been approved for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics .
8. How much revenue does the ICC generate?
In 2024, the ICC generated $777.9 million in revenue and a surplus of $474 million .
9. Who is the current Chairman of the ICC?
The current Chairman is Jay Shah from India, who took over in 2024 .
10. What are the controversies facing the ICC?
The ICC has faced criticism for its governance structure, which critics say is dominated by the “Big Three” (India, Australia, England). There have also been concerns about corruption in franchise leagues and the handling of Bangladesh’s removal from the 2026 T20 World Cup .
Conclusion: The Guardians of the Long Game
The ICC is a fascinating organization. It’s the guardian of a sport that has two billion fans—making it the second-most popular sport on the planet. It’s sitting on a billion dollars in reserves. And yet, it’s also a deeply flawed organization, struggling to balance tradition with growth, power with fairness, and the interests of the few with the interests of the many.
Cricket’s colonial past still haunts the ICC. The organization was born as an exclusive club for white Commonwealth nations. Even today, the governance structure reflects that legacy, with India, Australia, and England wielding disproportionate influence .
But the ICC is also changing. The inclusion of new members, the move to Dubai, and the push for Olympic inclusion all signal a desire to grow the game. The challenge is whether the ICC can reform its governance fast enough to keep up.
For cricket fans, the ICC is a necessary evil. It’s the organization that runs the tournaments we love, but it’s also the organization that makes decisions that often seem unfair. As the former CEO and his colleagues wrote, “Failure to act now will guarantee the absolute entrenchment of capture and will ensure the permanent death of cricket as a global sport” . It’s a stark warning, but it’s also a call to action.
The ICC has a hundred-year history behind it, and hopefully, another hundred ahead of it. Whether it can live up to its potential remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: cricket is here to stay, and the ICC will be at the center of it all.
