In India, cricket is not just a sport, but an obsession. Even though hockey is the country’s national sport, it is cricket that unfailingly grabs the largest number of eyeballs. Cricket is such a sport that has gained immense appeal among people from all walks of life for its simplicity, its thrill and its ability to be played just about anywhere.
The sheer popularity of cricket in all its forms has led to the inception of fantasy cricket as a distinct form of the game itself. Many people across the world play fantasy cricket online where they become managers of their very own virtual cricket teams. Needless to say, cricket is so much more than just a bat and ball game. For a sport that is loved by millions of people in various countries, it is only natural for there to be an organisation that oversees and governs the various aspects of cricket in order to ensure that the sport is played fairly and is regarded as a respectable sport that each and every person can enjoy. And that organisation is the International Cricket Council, known in short as the ICC.
What is the International Cricket Council?
The International Cricket Council, which is commonly referred to simply as the ‘ICC’ is the organisation that governs all aspects of cricket around the world. The governing body was founded in the year 1909, and it was originally known as the ‘Imperial Cricket Conference’. It was founded by representatives of Australia, South Africa and England. However, it was only in the year 1965 that its name was changed to ‘International Cricket Conference’. The organisation was renamed to its current name in the year 1987. The International Cricket Council has its headquarters in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
As of today, there are 108 nations who are members of the International Cricket Council. Out of these, there are 12 Full Member nations that play Test matches, and 96 Associate Member nations. England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Ireland and Afghanistan are the twelve nations which hold the full membership status in the International Cricket Council.
What does the International Cricket Council do?
The International Cricket Council has a very important role to play. It is responsible for the organisation as well as the governance of all the major international tournaments of cricket, chief of which are the Cricket World Cup and the T20 World Cup. The International Cricket Council is also the organisation that officially appoints umpires, referees and other important individuals who officiate and arbitrate all matches under the ICC’s jurisdiction. These include all the sanctioned Test matches, One Day International matches and Twenty20 International matches.
The organisation also publishes and disseminates a universal code of conduct for all professional players of the game. This is known as the ICC Code of Conduct, and it sets the standards and regulations for how cricketers are to behave and conduct themselves as well as the enforcement of discipline in the sport. This code of conduct also carries out actions against transgressions such as match fixing through a department known as the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.
However, controlling bilateral cricket fixtures between countries as well as the governance of domestic cricket within the member nations are not within the scope of the International Cricket Council’s jurisdiction. It also does not make any rules for cricket, and nor does it alter any of the existing laws according to which the sport is played.
What is the International Cricket Council’s Vision?
According to its website, the International Cricket Council has the “long-term ambition for cricket to become the world’s favorite sport.” The ICC vows to make cricket more competitive, entertaining and meaningful for both players and fans. The organisation aims to make cricket grow even further, by providing greater opportunities for people in general and nations at large to enjoy the sport at all levels and in all its formats. It also has the vision of promoting the sport by organizing and conducting cricketing events around the world that are exciting as well as engaging, with the intention of attracting new fans from all walks of life, and also to build commercial partnerships that are fruitful, mutually beneficial and successful for all involved. The organisation is also firmly committed to protecting the integrity of cricket and ensuring that the sport is viewed with respect.
How does the International Cricket Council Regulate Cricket?
The International Cricket Council is responsible for overseeing playing conditions as well as bowling reviews and also for reviewing and implementing ICC regulations. However, the International Cricket Council does not have the right to create or amend laws of the sport. The organisation does not hold the copyright to the Laws of Cricket, and only the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has the authority to modify or create new laws, and this may be done in consultation with the ICC.
The International Cricket Council has a set of playing conditions which apply to international cricket, and these make minor amendments to the laws of the game. As mentioned above, the governing body also maintains a code of conduct, called the ICC Code of Conduct, and all players and teams are required to comply with in the course of their participation in international matches. In case there is a breach of the code of conduct, the ICC has the authority to apply sanctions, penalties and fines on the player or team that has violated the code.
How does the International Cricket Council Earn Revenue?
The International Cricket Council generates its income from the various international tournaments it organises and conducts, its main one being the Cricket World Cup. The organisation distributes the majority of the revenue it earns to the members. The International Cricket Council’s primary sources of income are sponsorships as well as television rights.
However, the governing body does not generate any income from cricket matches that are held bilaterally between two countries.
Conclusion
The International Cricket Council is an organisation that plays a very important role in regulating and governing the various affairs of cricket. It is hoped that this article has helped to bring to light the structure, characteristics, ambitions and duties of this very important organisation.
