Cricket Development Programs: How Afghanistan, Ireland and Associates Rose Through ICC Pathways

For most of its organised history, cricket was dominated by ten Full Members of the ICC, all with deep colonial or Commonwealth ties to England. The expansion of cricket beyond these traditional nations has been one of the sport's most significant stories of the past two decades. Afghanistan and Ireland are the two clearest examples of Associate nations rising through ICC development pathways to Full Membership — and their stories reveal how talent, administration, and institutional support combine to create competitive Test nations from scratch.

The ICC Development Structure: From Associate to Full Member

The ICC recognises three tiers of membership: Full Members (12 nations with Test status), Associate Members (approximately 94 nations), and Affiliate Members. The World Cricket League (WCL) provides a competitive pathway for Associate nations, with promotion and relegation between divisions. The ICC Global Development program provides financial support, coaching resources, pitch development funding, and infrastructure grants to Associate Members. Associate nations that demonstrate sustained competitive performance and adequate administrative structures can apply for Full Membership — which includes the right to play Test cricket and receive a significantly larger share of ICC revenue.

Afghanistan: From Refugee Camps to Test Cricket

Afghanistan's cricket story is one of sport's most remarkable developments. Many of Afghanistan's founding cricketers learned the game in refugee camps in Pakistan during the Soviet-Afghan War period of the 1980s and 1990s. The sport spread through those camps and returned to Afghanistan with the refugees. In 2001, Afghanistan Cricket was formally established. The team qualified through multiple WCL divisions, winning the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 in 2008 and progressing steadily upwards. They qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time in 2015. In 2017, the ICC awarded Afghanistan Full Membership. They played their first Test match against India in Bengaluru in June 2018. Spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman emerged from the Afghan development system to become globally recognised T20 talents.

Ireland: Building a Test Nation Through Upsets

Ireland's cricket development is defined by a series of dramatic World Cup upsets that forced the cricket world to take them seriously. At the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, Ireland defeated Pakistan in a match that remains one of the greatest World Cup upsets. At the 2011 World Cup in Asia, they defeated England in Bengaluru in a match that ended Andrew Flintoff's ODI career. These performances, combined with consistent WCL and InterContinental Cup performances, built the case for Full Membership. Ireland became a Full Member in June 2017. They played their first Test match against Pakistan at Malahide in Dublin in May 2018. Kevin O'Brien, the hero of the England upset, played in that first Test.

Other Associate Nations on Development Pathways

Beyond Afghanistan and Ireland, several Associate nations are making sustained progress through ICC development pathways. Namibia and Oman have been consistent qualifiers for T20 World Cups. Nepal's young squad has shown significant talent in ICC events. The USA qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup as co-hosts and beat Pakistan in the group stage — an extraordinary upset that generated massive commercial attention for cricket in North America. The Netherlands have competed creditably in multiple World Cups. The expansion of T20 World Cup qualifying places to 20 nations has given Associate teams more exposure to high-pressure international cricket.

• Afghanistan: Full Member since 2017, Test debut vs India June 2018, Rashid Khan a global T20 icon
• Ireland: Full Member since 2017, Test debut vs Pakistan May 2018, beat England and Pakistan in World Cups
• USA: beat Pakistan at 2024 T20 WC, cricket infrastructure expanding rapidly post-IPL broadcast investment
• Nepal: producing national-level talent for IPL auctions, growing grassroots in South Asia
• Associate teams now receive increased ICC funding to improve coaching, pitches, and domestic structures

Challenges Facing Developing Cricket Nations

Developing cricket nations face structural challenges that the ICC's development programs only partially address. Domestic competitions are limited in quality — a player in Afghanistan or Ireland does not have the equivalent of the Ranji Trophy or Sheffield Shield to develop their game at high standard between internationals. Financial resources limit the ability to attract high-quality coaching staff. Facility infrastructure — pitches that prepare players for Test conditions — requires sustained investment. Political instability in Afghanistan has repeatedly disrupted scheduling, most critically after the Taliban takeover in 2021 suspended Women's cricket entirely. The balance between commercial development (franchise T20 leagues that attract developing nations' top players) and traditional cricket development (building Test-quality players through long-form cricket) is one the ICC and developing boards are still navigating.