Classification of official cricket status matches for Associate member countries

The official classification for matches involving Full members and Associate member countries were updated by International Cricket Council (ICC) in June 2024, and an amendment to one of the rules featuring Associate Member Teams was updated during the ICC Board meetings on May 30th and 31st, 2026, in India. Below are the excerpts from the rules as defined for the matches involving countries with Associate membership under the ICC (A total of 98 countries).

One-Day Internationals

ODI matches are those which are played in accordance with the ICC Standard One Day International playing conditions and other ICC regulations pertaining to ODI matches and are between:

1) Any teams participating in and as part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-Off, Cricket World Cup League 2, the Men’s Asia Cup, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and the Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier; or

2) Two Full Member Teams; or

3) A Full Member Team and an Associate Member with ODI status

4) Two Associate Members both with ODI status

For Men’s ODIs: Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Canada, Scotland, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and United States of America;
For Women’s ODIs: Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand and United Arab Emirates

Twenty20 International Matches

Twenty20 International Matches are those which are played in accordance with the ICC standard Twenty20 International playing conditions and other ICC regulations pertaining to Twenty20 matches and are between:

1) Any teams participating in and as part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup; or

2) Teams both of whom are either Full or Associate Members

Other Official Internationals

Any limited overs match between Associate international teams other than those already classified as ODIs/T20Is. Such matches are only other official internationals if played as part of a global or regional ICC event or competition; or agreed with and under the auspices of the ICC Development Program/High Performance Program.

A Limited Overs or Twenty20 match that involves a team from a country that does not have ODI status shall not be classified as a List A Limited Overs or Twenty20 Match.

In addition, limited overs matches between ‘A’ teams of Associates with ODI status may be accorded List-A Limited Overs or List-A Twenty20 status by the relevant Governing Body.

First-Class Matches

In matches of three or more days’ duration played in countries which are not Full Members of the International Cricket Council:

1) If only one team comes from a Full Member country or both teams come from the same Full Member country then that country shall decide the status; otherwise

2)If both teams come from different Full Member countries then the status shall be decided by agreement between those countries if possible; otherwise

3) The ICC shall decide

Rules for List A limited overs matches and List A Twenty20 matches

In matches of one day’s duration played in countries which are not Full Members of ICC:

1) If only one team comes from a Full Member country or both teams come from the same Full Member country then that country shall decide the status; otherwise

2) If both teams come from different Full Member countries then the status shall be decided by agreement between those countries if possible; otherwise

3) The ICC shall decide

4) Teams in the CWC Challenge League remain eligible to play other List A limited overs matches during each Challenge League tournament cycle.