Associate Nations of Cricket: Who They Are and How the Pathway Works
Learn what Associate members of the ICC are, how they differ from Full Members, and some famous upsets and milestones from cricket’s emerging nations.
The International Cricket Council, cricket’s global governing body, has more than 100 members. They are divided into Full Members, who play Test cricket, and Associate Members, who do not hold Test status. Associate nations range from established teams with long histories to new programmes still building their domestic game.
Full Members and Associates
As of the end of 2024, there are 12 Full Members: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. Ireland and Afghanistan were promoted from Associate status in 2017 and played their first Tests in 2018. Every other member is an Associate, and some of the better-known examples include the Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, Nepal, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Canada and Papua New Guinea.
What Associate status means
Associate Members receive support from the ICC for development, such as funding, coaching and competitions. They are not entitled to automatic places at ICC tournaments, so they typically qualify via regional and global qualifiers. In 2019, the ICC decided to grant official Twenty20 International status to all of its members, which means that matches between member nations are recorded in the same international statistics. That change has widened the number of players who can make an international appearance.
Famous Associate moments
- Kenya reached the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup, the best result by an Associate in the tournament’s history.
- Ireland beat England at the 2011 World Cup in Bangalore, chasing a total in one of the competition’s best-known upsets.
- Afghanistan rose from the lower levels of the global structure to full ICC membership in 2017.
- The Netherlands defeated South Africa at the 2022 T20 World Cup.
- The United States, a co-host of the 2024 T20 World Cup, beat Pakistan in a Super Over and reached the Super Eight stage.
The qualification pathway
Associate teams earn a place at global events through regional qualifiers and tournaments organised by the ICC. For World Cups, they usually need to win or place highly in a qualifying competition that can include several levels of play. Tournament formats change from cycle to cycle, so the details of the pathway should be checked for each event.
Challenges for emerging nations
Associates often face limited funding, fewer fixtures against top teams and a heavy reliance on part-time players. Their cricketers frequently combine international duty with other jobs or with playing in foreign leagues. Even so, many have produced strong teams, and their matches have shown how the game can grow in new regions.
Why they matter
The ICC and many fans see Associates as vital to cricket’s global future. Their growth supports the sport’s aim of reaching new audiences and its bid for inclusion in multi-sport events. Cricket is scheduled to return to the Olympic programme at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, in a T20 format, and the development of non-Test nations will be central to that expansion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Full and Associate members?
Full Members hold Test status and play Test cricket. Associate Members do not have Test status but are members of the ICC and take part in qualifying events and international T20 and one-day cricket.
Which Associate nations became Full Members?
Ireland and Afghanistan were both granted Full Membership in 2017 and played their first Tests in 2018.
Do Associate matches count as international games?
Since 1 January 2019, all matches between ICC members count as Twenty20 Internationals. One-day international status depends on the competition and the teams involved.