Full Form of ICC (International Cricket Council)
The full form of ICC is International Cricket Council. It is the governing body of the sport of cricket and controls its rules and regulations. Established on 15 June 1909 in London. Formerly named the Imperial Cricket Council when it was first established, only three countries were a part of it, and now there are a whopping 108 countries. ICC’s current Chairman and Head of the Board of Directors is Greg Barclay. This article will provide complete information on the ICC’s history, members, functions, and more.
History of ICC
As mentioned, the ICC was set up on 15 June 1909 with three members- England, South Africa, and Australia. There was also a condition that the countries to join ICC were to be commonwealth countries, i.e., ruled by the British. This went on for a while, and in 1926 three new countries were then added to the list – India, West Indies, and New Zealand. So the total number of countries playing cricket increased to six.
In 1947 Pakistan gained its independence and joined the ICC in 1952. In 1961 Africa came out of the commonwealth and was hence barred from ICC. Finally, in 1965 the rules changed, and countries didn’t need to be commonwealth to become a member of the ICC; hence in 1981, Sri Lanka joined as well, and in 1999 Africa also came back. As time progressed, countries like Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe became the 12 permanent members of the ICC, along with 96 associate members.
Members of ICC
The ICC has 108 countries, with 12 permanent/ full members and 96 associate members.
The following are the members of the ICC:
- South Africa
- India
- West Indies
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Ireland
- Afghanistan
- Pakistan
- Zimbabwe
- Bahamas
- Argentina
- Belgium
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Bermuda
- Cameroon
- Belize
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Falkland Islands
- Eswatini
- Czech Republic
- China
- Chile
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Fiji
- Finland
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Hungary
- Hong Kong
- Greece
- Ghana
- Gambia
- France
- Indonesia
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Ivory Coast
- Jersey
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Luxembourg
- Lesotho
- Japan
- Israel
- Iran
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Mexico
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- Nepal
- Myanmar
- Mongolia
- Malta
- Maldives
- Malawi
- Norway
- Oman
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Saint Helena
- Romania
- Portugal
- Peru
- Panama
- Nigeria
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Suriname
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Sweden
- Spain
- Slovenia
- Sierra Leone
- Scotland
- Thailand
- Vanuatu
- United States
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Turkey
- Tanzania
- Uzbekistan
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- England
- Australia
- New Zealand
Functions of ICC
After getting a brief idea about the full form of ICC and other information related to it, let us now understand the functions of ICC. The International Cricket Council looks over all the affairs related to International Cricket and governs fair practice in the game.
The function of ICC includes:
- The ICC’s primary responsibility is to hold various International Cricket Tournaments such as the World Cup, T20 World Cup, Test Matches, etc.
- Secondly, ICC appoints various empires, match referees, and ground empires to ensure the game occurs according to the rules.
- Thirdly the ICC ensures that there’s no corruption in the game, such as match-fixing, ingestion of steroids by the players, etc.
- The ICC observes the conditions for playing cricket and governs the rules formed by the Marylebone Cricket Club.
Tournaments Organized by ICC
The International Cricket Council strategically organizes various cricket tournaments to keep its audience on edge.
Some of the famous tournaments include:
1. ICC Cricket World Cup
It is the largest cricket event and the most highly regarded tournament held once every four years. It is the most popular cricket match in history. The ICC asserts that it is the biggest and most important event in cricket, with many matches.
2. ICC Champions Trophy
This ICC-sponsored event is the second-most significant event after the legendary World Cup. It was initially known as the ICC Knockout Tournament before getting this name. The winners were also awarded a mini world cup.
3. T20 World Cup
The trophy weighs up to 7.5 kilograms. It is the shortest and most favored cricket competition and has already seen some of the game’s biggest sixes. The best source of enthusiasm and entertainment is available there. India unexpectedly won the first tournament, which got underway in 2011. In India, this format had a significant impact in this way.
ICC Revenue Generation
The ICC’s primary source of income comes from the competition it holds. A vast portion of this revenue has become split with its members. Between 2007 and 2015, International Cricket Council raised a staggering $1.6 billion from broadcasting and sponsorship alone. The estimated revenue cycle for the ICC from 2015 to 2023 is around US $2.5 billion, of which the BCCI (The Board of Control for Cricket in India) will receive about 23% and England and Australia between 6% and 10%. Aside from this, all Associate members receive a share of the outstanding surplus.
Conclusion – Full Form of ICC
International Cricket Council, established in 1909 on 15 June with three countries, is now a large body of 12 full members and 96 associate/ affiliate members. The ICC ensures a fair game in the matches and governs the rules laid by MCC. It hosts several tournaments, such as the T20 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, etc., that generate an income of around 1.6 billion dollars. The matches that the ICC organizes have been a significant source of entertainment in many countries. Hope this article has helped you understand the full form of ICC and its various facts.
