The International Cricket Council (ICC) took several major decisions in its annual general meeting (AGM) held on 20 July 2025 in Singapore. The most prominent decision was to host the World Test Championship (WTC) finals of 2027, 2029 and 2031 to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The ICC took the decision citing the successful track record in the recent final events of the ECB. The decision ignored the demand for hosting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which expressed his desire to host the 2027 final.
The ICC said that England’s favorable weather conditions and basic facilities there are the basis of this decision. The first three WTC finals (Southampton in 2021, The Oval in 2023, and Lords in 2025) were also in England. The BCCI had demanded to hold a final on Asian pitches to diversify the game, but the ICC rejected it. Some experts believe that reasons such as the number of spectators and India-Pakistan stress did not reach the finals of India, also affected the decision.
In addition, the ICC included the Timor-Lastti Cricket Federation and the Zambia Cricket Union as their associate members, leading to the total number of members to 110. This step reflects the expansion of global cricket. The ICC also announced a program to support the displaced female cricketers of Afghan origin, with BCCI, ECB and Cricket Australia in 2025 women’s Cricket World Cup to be held in India in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in England in 2026.
The ICC also discussed the situation of US cricket, which was directed to conduct administrative reforms and a fair election in three months. This decision is a shock to the BCCI, as the former Secretary of India and the current ICC President Jai Shah also did not get a chance to host. Cricket fans and experts have given mixed reactions to this, some praised England’s basic features, while some described it as limiting the global appeal of Test cricket.
