The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to cancel its board and committee meetings in Doha due to ongoing tensions in West Asia disrupting travel. Initially scheduled from March 25 to 27, the meetings aimed to gather ICC Board Directors, Chief Executives, committee members, and senior leadership to discuss crucial matters concerning the global game’s current and future aspects. While the ICC is considering the possibility of holding in-person meetings in April, this decision hinges on the normal functioning of regional airspace to ensure safe travel for board members.
Among the significant topics anticipated for discussion were the future of global broadcast rights post the 2027 deal expiration, early talks on the next Future Tours Programme (FTP), and the qualification process for cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The planned Doha gathering would have been the first time the ICC intended to host its board meetings in Qatar, a nation that has recently witnessed a substantial surge in cricket participation.
Qatar has experienced a remarkable 447% increase in overall cricket participation since 2020, primarily driven by initiatives targeting the introduction of the sport to new and younger audiences. A key contributor to this growth has been cricket’s integration into the Qatar Olympic Committee’s School Olympic Programme, fostering the game’s presence in schools nationwide. However, the ongoing crisis in West Asia has started impacting international cricket schedules, with the limited-overs series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, initially set for the UAE from March 13 to 25, now facing indefinite postponement. Similarly, the series between Pakistan Shaheens and England Lions had to be abruptly called off due to the same crisis.
