Ukraine’s All-Important Bid For Associate Cricket Membership Is ‘Deferred’ Because Of Ongoing War

Ukraine has missed out on coveted International Cricket Council (ICC) Associate membership with its application deferred until “cricket activity resumes” in the war-torn country.

At its AGM on Tuesday in Birmingham, the ICC welcomed Uzbekistan, Cote D’Ivoire and Cambodia—the latter subject to a satisfactory women’s pathway put in place by year’s end—as new Associate members.

But Ukraine will have to wait—which I reported last week was likely—heightening fears for the sport’s future there.

“It’s terrible in Ukraine right now. Ukraine needs any type of morale booster to lift them,” Ukraine Cricket Federation chief executive Kobus Olivier told me on Tuesday. “There will never again be cricket in Ukraine. It will cease to exist. That will all stop now because there is no money.”

The level below the 12 Full Members in cricket’s archaic tiered system, Associate membership leads to invaluable funding—starting from around $18,000 annually, which Ukraine would have likely received—and Twenty20I status.

Ukraine appeared set for the vital status after a swift rise fuelled by South African Olivier, who helped seriously develop cricket on a whim while teaching at a private school.

But their dreams were shattered after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine although Olivier has continued cricket programs for refugees who fled to Zagreb. Olivier believed Croatia’s capital could become a makeshift headquarter for Ukrainian cricket, while its senior cricketers would be based in India through the connections of president Hardeep Singh.

The ICC’s Membership Committee, however, was not satisfied and said Ukraine did not satisfy the eligibility criteria.

“In particular, in light of the ongoing war there is currently no cricket activity taking place in Ukraine,” it wrote in a document distributed at the AGM.

“The ICC has maintained regular contact with the UKF and whilst there is evidence of some cricket activity being conducted in refugee camps (outside of Ukraine) through the UKF, there is currently no cricket activity taking place in Ukraine.

“Consequently—and through no fault of their own—as there is currently no cricket activity in Ukraine, the Ukraine Cricket Federation does not currently meet this aspect of the Membership Criteria.

“As a result, MemCom recommends that Ukraine’s application be deferred until such time as cricket activity has resumed in Ukraine.”

Ukraine would also have to demonstrate certain criteria, including a “satisfactory” women’s pathway programme.

In a document on April 29, ICC management said it would have recommended Associate membership for Ukraine prior to the war. “Since UCF’s formal application for ICC Membership, the war in Ukraine has disrupted UCF’s ability to operate,” it wrote.

“Most, if not all, of the current UCF officials have fled Ukraine, and there is no certainty as to when, or if, they will be able to return. Whilst the war continues, UCF are not able to operate effectively as a National Governing Body, although it should be noted that this is due to circumstances completely outside of their control.”

Mauritius and Vietnam were unsuccessful in their bids for Associate membership, while Russia was expelled from the ICC after it had been suspended 12 months ago for continued non-compliance.