ICC: What It Is, How It Shapes Global Cricket, and Why It Matters

When you hear ICC, the International Cricket Council, the global governing body for cricket. Also known as International Cricket Council, it sets the rules, organizes tournaments like the World Cup, and decides who gets to play at the highest level. This isn’t just a committee in Dubai—it’s the engine behind every major cricket moment you care about. From India’s high-stakes matches against New Zealand to Richa Ghosh breaking records in women’s T20Is, the ICC is the invisible hand making it all possible.

It’s not just about who wins. The BCCI, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the powerful national body that runs cricket in India answers to the ICC. That’s why India’s 2026 series with New Zealand isn’t just a friendly schedule—it’s part of a global calendar approved by the ICC to prepare teams for the T20 World Cup. The same goes for the World Test Championship, where every Test match carries points that affect rankings. Without the ICC’s structure, there’d be no clear path to the final. And when it comes to women’s cricket, the ICC’s push for equal prize money and more tournaments is what let Richa Ghosh’s 18-ball fifty make headlines worldwide.

But the ICC doesn’t just run games. It decides who gets to play them. It sets player eligibility rules, handles match-fixing investigations, and even approves new formats. That’s why a team like West Indies still gets to compete despite financial struggles—they’re under the ICC umbrella. And when you wonder why some countries get more TV slots or why certain venues host finals, it’s because the ICC picks them. The World Cup, the ICC’s flagship event, held every four years and the most-watched cricket tournament on earth isn’t just a tournament—it’s the ultimate prize, and the ICC controls every step to get there.

What you’ll find below isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a real-time look at how the ICC touches everything—from a captain’s first win under Shubman Gill to how a single match can shift rankings, funding, and even national pride. You’ll see how India’s schedule, women’s records, and global rivalries all tie back to decisions made by this one organization. Whether you’re here for the stats, the drama, or the politics behind the game, the ICC is the thread pulling it all together.