Ireland and Afghanistan: How Two Associate Nations Earned Test Status and Changed Cricket's Structure
Ireland and Afghanistan were granted Full Member status by the ICC in June 2017, becoming the 11th and 12th Test-playing nations. Afghanistan played their first Test against India in June 2018 in Bengaluru. Ireland played their first Test against Pakistan in May 2018 in Malahide, Dublin. Both nations had built their cricket programs from near-zero: Ireland through the Ireland Cricket board and Leinster cricket club structures; Afghanistan through cricket in refugee camps in Pakistan during the Soviet-Afghan war.
Ireland and Afghanistan were granted Full Member status by the ICC in June 2017 — becoming the 11th and 12th Test-playing nations. The elevation was historic: both nations had competed as Associate members for over a decade, qualifying for multiple ICC World Cups, before receiving Test status.
Afghanistan's Story
Afghan cricket's origin story is unique in world sport. During the Soviet-Afghan war (1979–1989), Afghan refugees living in camps in Pakistan (particularly in Peshawar and the NWFP) took up cricket — the sport their host country played. When they returned to Afghanistan in the 1990s and 2000s, they brought cricket with them. The Afghanistan Cricket Board was formally established in 1995. By 2010, Afghanistan had risen to ICC Intercontinental Cup contenders. Key players: Mohammad Nabi (all-rounder), Rashid Khan (leg-spinner who reached ICC T20 rankings No. 1 while aged 18), and Asghar Afghan (captain for most of their Associate era). Afghanistan qualified for the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. Their first Test vs India in Bengaluru (June 2018) ended in a draw after one innings each due to rain.
Ireland's Journey
Ireland's cricket program was built on the existing club and provincial structure from the colonial era. The defining moment of Ireland's Associate career came at the 2011 World Cup: Kevin O'Brien scored 113 off 63 balls (the fastest World Cup century at the time) in a stunning 329-run chase vs England — Ireland's highest-profile win. Ireland played their first Test against Pakistan at Malahide, Dublin, in May 2018. The ground (capacity 12,000) was Ireland's home ground — making it one of the smallest venues ever to host a Test match. Ireland won the toss and put Pakistan in; Pakistan scored 310 in the first innings. The match ended in a Pakistan win, but Ireland competed creditably.
Frequently asked questions
What structural changes did the ICC make to its membership tiers to allow Ireland and Afghanistan to rise, and what does this mean for other Associate nations seeking Test status?
ICC membership structure and pathway for new Test nations. The ICC structure has three tiers: Full Members (12 nations with Test status), Associate Members (approximately 92 nations, with varying levels of development), and Affiliate Members. The pathway to Full Membership was historically unclear — early Test nations (England, Australia, etc.) were admitted without a formal process. The formal pathway that Ireland and Afghanistan navigated: (1) Associate Member → ICC World Cricket League participation → qualify for ICC events → demonstrate cricket infrastructure, administration, and commercial viability. (2) The ICC's 2017 decision to grant Ireland and Afghanistan Full Membership was partly political and partly merit-based. Ireland and Afghanistan had both demonstrated sustained competitive performance (both qualified for multiple World Cups, beat Full Members in major tournaments) and credible cricket infrastructure. The commercial argument: Ireland's cricket market (European cricket fans, diaspora) and Afghanistan's story (cricket in war-affected nation, massive Afghan diaspora) were commercially compelling for the ICC's global expansion. What it means for other Associates: The ICC has not committed to an automatic pathway to Full Membership based on on-field performance alone. Other Associate nations that have been competitive — Scotland (qualified for 2019 WC), Nepal (ICC T20I recognition), UAE, Oman — have not been offered Full Membership. The ICC's 2023 charter requires a formal review of Associate nations' Full Membership applications every 4 years. The barrier is not just performance: it includes financial viability, administrator quality, ground infrastructure, and commercial appeal. The real structural change: the 2019 ICC World Cup was expanded from 10 teams to a qualification structure that allows Associates to qualify — this is the most concrete structural benefit of the Associate pathway.