Overview
- The ICC Board in Edinburgh endorsed continuing the Development Pathway Programme on Monday and reconstituted a Special Task Force to build a roadmap toward ICC qualification by 2030.
- Independent director Dr Ros Rivaz and Chief Executives’ Committee member Sarah Keane were appointed to the Task Force alongside representatives from the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the ECB to oversee the plan.
- The programme will keep offering coaching, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and phased match exposure while players remain integrated in local cricket systems in Australia, England and Canada.
- No immediate tournament entries have been announced; the Task Force will pick staged opposition and tours to rebuild the squad’s competitive foundation and resolve formal eligibility for ICC events.
- The decision responds to the Taliban ban on women’s sport since 2021 and could set a governance precedent for how cricket supports stateless or exiled teams while directly restoring playing opportunities and team cohesion for displaced players.