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ICC Cancels Doha Meetings Amid West Asia Conflict, Affects Cricket Schedules

The International Cricket Council has called off its board and committee meetings scheduled for late March in Doha due to travel disruptions caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict. The meetings were crucial for discussing major issues like future broadcast rights and the next Future Tours Programme. The conflict has also forced the postponement of an Afghanistan-Sri Lanka limited-overs series and cancelled a Pakistan Shaheens vs England Lions series mid-way. Despite the cancellation, the ICC is considering rescheduling the in-person meetings for April if regional airspace normalizes.

Key Points: ICC Cancels Doha Board Meetings Due to West Asia Conflict

  • Meetings scheduled for March 25-27 cancelled
  • Future broadcast rights & FTP on agenda
  • Qatar cricket participation up 447%
  • Afghanistan-Sri Lanka series postponed
  • Pakistan-England Lions series cancelled
2 min read

ICC calls off board meetings in Doha amid West Asia conflict: Report

ICC calls off key meetings in Doha over travel disruptions from West Asia tensions, impacting cricket governance and international series.

"the ICC is still keeping the option open to hold in-person meetings in April - ESPNcricinfo"

New Delhi, March 10

The International Cricket Council has reportedly called off its board and committee meetings in Doha due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia that have disrupted travel in the region.

The meetings were scheduled to take place from March 25 to 27, bringing together ICC Board Directors, Chief Executives, committee members and senior leadership as part of the organisation's ongoing governance calendar, providing an important opportunity to deliberate over key matters pertaining to the present and future of the global game.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC is still keeping the option open to hold in-person meetings in April, although that will depend on normal functioning of regional airspace to allow safe travel for board members.

The report said that that among the major topics expected to be discussed were the future of global broadcast rights after the current deal expires in 2027, early talks regarding the next Future Tours Programme (FTP), and the qualification process for cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The Doha gathering would have marked the first time the ICC planned to host its board meetings in Qatar, a country that has recently reported a significant rise in cricket participation.

Since 2020, overall participation in cricket in Qatar has grown by an impressive 447 per cent, driven largely by initiatives aimed at introducing the sport to new and younger audiences. Central to this growth has been cricket's inclusion in the Qatar Olympic Committee's School Olympic Programme, which has helped embed the game within schools across the country.

Meanwhile, the ongoing crisis in West Asia has also begun to affect international cricket schedules. The limited-overs series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to take place in the UAE from March 13 to 25, is now likely to be postponed indefinitely.

An earlier series between Pakistan Shaheens and England Lions was also cancelled mid-way due to the same crisis.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Understandable decision, but the delays are concerning. The broadcast rights and next FTP cycle are crucial for all cricket boards, especially smaller ones. Hope they have a solid virtual plan B. Can't let geopolitics stall the sport's administration completely.
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Aman W
First Afghanistan-SL, now this. The ripple effect is real. 😕 My main worry is the 2028 Olympics qualification process. We need a clear, fair pathway for teams like ours to dream of that stage. Hope this doesn't push those talks back too far.
S
Sarah B
It's just a meeting, they can do it virtually. The real story is the human cost of the conflict that's causing this. Sports bodies pulling out is a minor symptom of a much larger tragedy. Thoughts are with all affected.
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Vikram M
Good move by ICC. No point risking travel. But they must be proactive now. Why not host it in India? We have the infrastructure, security, and it's a cricket hub. Could even do it in Dubai if the airspace clears. Let's keep the show on the road, yaar.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, while safety is paramount, the ICC's contingency planning seems weak. The article says they're "keeping the option open" for April. They should have a confirmed virtual agenda ready to go. Governance shouldn't pause. This is a test of their leadership.

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