ICC Suspends Cricket Canada

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended Cricket Canada with immediate effect, citing serious breaches of its membership obligations. This decision was made during the ICC Board meetings in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 31). The suspension comes in the wake of a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) documentary in April that raised concerns over governance issues, including allegations of match manipulation and threats of violence involving some players and officials.

Despite the suspension, the ICC has taken measures to ensure that Canadian cricketers are not affected by the administrative issues within the national body. Canadian national teams will continue to participate in ICC events during the suspension period. The ICC will provide Cricket Canada with a set of reinstatement conditions aimed at addressing governance and administrative shortcomings. The progress will be monitored by the ICC's Normalisation Committee.

Pink Ball Trial Approved

In another significant decision, the ICC approved a recommendation to trial the use of a pink ball in conventional Test matches. This trial is subject to agreement from both participating teams, particularly when poor light is anticipated. The proposal aims to reduce time lost due to bad light by allowing teams to switch from the traditional red ball to a pink ball during a Test match. The ICC also confirmed plans to jointly fund research with the MCC into lighting technology to further minimize interruptions caused by poor light conditions.

Other Key Decisions

The ICC Board also approved a recommendation to establish a Global Qualifier for the ICC Men's T20 World Cups, aiming to provide a 16-team qualifier structure. This move revives a global qualification pathway for Associate nations after the ICC noted increased interest and viewership in matches involving non-Full Member teams. Additionally, the ICC permanently adopted the leg-side wides trial, which uses a batter's position at the point of delivery as the point of reference. Match officials will now have access to Hawk-Eye data when assessing suspected illegal bowling actions.

The ICC also addressed governance matters in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with representatives visiting these countries to engage with stakeholders regarding developments in their cricket boards. The Board expressed concern over the growing footprint of franchise cricket worldwide and resolved to establish a committee to examine how franchise leagues can be harmonised with the international calendar.

"Our discussions in Ahmedabad have reinforced the ICC's commitment to governance, administration, and the growth of cricket globally," ICC chairman Jay Shah said. "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."