ICC admits Mauritius as 111th member, keeps Canada suspended and places France Cricket on notice

The Mauritius Cricket Federation has been officially inducted as the International Cricket Council's 111th member following the governing body's Annual Conference in Edinburgh. The admission increases the ICC's total membership to 12 Full Members and 99 Associate Members. The conference also addressed critical issues involving two other nations, maintaining Cricket Canada's suspension while issuing a formal warning to France Cricket over governance and membership compliance failures.

The Mauritius Cricket Federation's accomplishment comes after three years of dedicated strategic planning and collaborative effort, with the executive committee, players, coaches, volunteers and clubs working tirelessly to achieve this international milestone. Gaining official ICC Membership unlocks global opportunities for Mauritius cricket, including international participation, development programmes, coaching and umpiring education, as well as institutional capacity building. The achievement marks a significant expansion of cricket's global footprint across emerging markets.

Addressing the Canada situation, the ICC approved specific 'Reinstatement Conditions' for Cricket Canada, setting out the criteria that must be satisfied before its current suspension from ICC Membership can be lifted. The suspension came after serious breaches of membership obligations, particularly towards governance and financial issues. Progress against these conditions will be monitored by the ICC Normalisation Committee, supported by ICC management, with reinstatement of membership subject to the Board being satisfied that the conditions have been fully met. The exact reinstatement criteria remain undisclosed to the public.

"The addition of Mauritius reflects the ICC's commitment to expanding cricket's reach, strengthening its presence in emerging markets, and creating greater opportunities for participation and development across the world. This achievement belongs to every player, coach, volunteer, club, sponsor and supporter who believed in our vision. We remain committed to creating opportunities for every young boy and girl in Mauritius to represent our nation on the international stage," Mauritius Cricket Federation President Saleem Bhat said as quoted by Platform Africa.

The ICC Annual General Meeting agreed to place France Cricket On Notice for breaches of the ICC Membership Criteria. The governing body expects to monitor the board's compliance going forward as it addresses governance issues. Beyond these three member issues, the Board approved a USD 12.82 million loan to Cricket West Indies to support the member board's operations. The conference wrapped without decisions on expanding the World Test Championship format or modifying ODI playing conditions.