Cricket in Emerging Nations: USA, Netherlands, UAE, and the ICC World League
Cricket is growing in nations that were traditionally outside the mainstream of the sport. The USA (with Major League Cricket since 2023), the Netherlands, Ireland, Afghanistan, and the UAE are the most prominent emerging cricket nations. The ICC's global development program, the ICC World League and qualifiers, provides a pathway for Associate Member nations to compete in World Cups. Afghanistan's rise from conflict-affected beginnings to Test status is cricket's most inspiring development story.
ICC Associate Members: the International Cricket Council has two tiers of membership. Full Members (12 nations as of 2026): Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan. These nations have Test status. Associate Members (90+ nations): countries with developing cricket programs that compete in ICC qualifying tournaments. Associate Members can qualify for ODI and T20 World Cups by winning the ICC World League qualifier system. Ireland and Afghanistan were elevated to Full Member (Test) status in 2017, the first new Test nations in 17 years.
Afghanistan Rise
Afghanistan cricket: Afghanistan's rise from a war-ravaged country with no cricket infrastructure to Test-match status in 2017 is cricket's most remarkable development story. The Afghan Refugee team first played cricket in Pakistani refugee camps in the late 1990s; they returned to Afghanistan after 2001 and developed rapidly. Key milestones: 2009 — qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 and shocked cricket by reaching the Super 8s; 2010-2015 — progressive improvements in ICC qualifiers; 2017 — granted Test status alongside Ireland. Afghan players who developed from the refugee camps: Rashid Khan (considered one of the top 3 leg-spin bowlers in the world), Mohammad Nabi (all-rounder), and Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper-batsman). Afghanistan's test journey has been complicated by the Taliban government's restrictions on women's cricket, creating ongoing tensions with the ICC.
USA Major League Cricket
USA cricket: Major League Cricket (MLC) launched its first season in 2023 with 6 franchise teams — the first professional T20 league in the USA. The league immediately signed major international stars including MS Dhoni's protege Hardik Pandya (playing as a marquee player for one team) and attracted ex-international players. The USA hosted its first major ICC event in 2024 — the T20 World Cup, played across Texas (Dallas), New York, and Florida. The tournament included an iconic moment: USA beat Pakistan in their group stage match (using the Super Over) — the largest upset in T20 World Cup history at the time. The USA has significant immigrant cricket population (South Asian diaspora, West Indian diaspora) that provides the fan base; growing the participation base among the non-immigrant American population remains the long-term challenge.
Ireland and Netherlands
Ireland cricket: Ireland's cricket history predates their current status as a Test nation — Ireland played cricket informally for 150+ years before achieving Full Member status in 2017 (they had been an Associate Member of the ICC since 1993). Ireland's most celebrated moment before Test status: beating Pakistan in the 2007 ODI World Cup (tied at 132, with Trent Johnston's last-over bowling defeating a full-strength Pakistan team). Ireland played their first Test match against Pakistan in May 2018, winning it in 5 days — a historic result for a new Test nation. The Netherlands have been consistently competitive at the Associate level — they qualified for multiple ODI World Cups and were one of the best Associate cricket nations throughout the 2000s-2020s. The Netherlands beat South Africa in a 2023 ODI World Cup qualifier match — another associate upset.
Frequently asked questions
When did Afghanistan become a Test cricket nation?
Afghanistan was granted Test cricket status by the ICC in June 2017, along with Ireland — the first two new Test nations since Zimbabwe in 1992. Afghanistan played their first Test match against India in June 2018 in Bengaluru (India won by an innings and 262 runs). Despite the defeat, Afghanistan's elevation to Test status was celebrated as one of cricket's greatest development stories — the country had gone from no cricket infrastructure in the late 1990s to producing world-class players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman within 15 years. Afghanistan's Test team has since played multiple Tests and produced competitive performances, though their schedule of home and away Tests remains limited due to political and infrastructure challenges.
What is Major League Cricket in the USA?
Major League Cricket (MLC) is the professional T20 cricket league that launched in the United States in 2023. It operates with 6 franchise teams based in major US cities, playing in a T20 format similar to the IPL, BBL, and other global T20 leagues. MLC was established to develop cricket infrastructure in the USA and provide a professional competition for the growing South Asian and West Indian diaspora cricket population. Major international players have participated since the first season. The USA also hosted matches in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by USA and West Indies — the highest-profile cricket event ever held in North America. USA beat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup group stage in 2024, the biggest upset in T20 World Cup history.
Which are the best Associate cricket nations?
The best ICC Associate cricket nations (those below Full Member/Test status or recently elevated) include: Afghanistan (now a Full Member since 2017, playing Tests); Ireland (Full Member since 2017); the Netherlands (consistent qualifier for ODI and T20 World Cups; beat South Africa in 2023 qualifier); Scotland (regular qualifier for T20 World Cup); Namibia (African cricket development leader); UAE (hosted multiple ICC events); Nepal (strong sub-continental Associate); Papua New Guinea (Pacific region leader); and Oman (Arab cricket standout). Ireland and Afghanistan are the standout success stories — both progressed from Associate status to full Test-playing nations within a generation. The ICC's Associate development program specifically targets creating more nations capable of achieving Full Member status.