Last Updated on October 26, 2023 by Alex PT
Cricket is popular in over 100 countries. The most prominent cricket-playing nations include India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, the West Indies, and Sri Lanka. These countries have robust cricket traditions, with India being the most populous and cricket-loving nation.
The Table Below Contains The Countries That Play Cricket, Countries That Play Test Cricket, And ODI Cricket.
| How Many Countries Play Cricket? | We have a total of hundred four nations that play cricket across the planet and are people of the ICC. |
| How Many Countries Play Test Cricket? | There are only 12 countries that play Test Cricket in the world. |
| How Many Countries Play ODI Cricket? | There are twenty countries playing the ODI Cricket |
| How Many Countries Play T20 Cricket? | Currently, there are 90 countries that participate in the T20 Cricket tournaments. |
How Many Countries Play Cricket?
Currently, we have a total of hundred four nations that play cricket across the planet and are people of the ICC. As we said earlier, the membership of each country is subdivided into two categories i.e. Full Member and Associate Member. There are a total of 92 Associate Members who play Test matches and 12 Full Members. An Associate Member can be promoted to a Full Member if it performs well in international competition.
Can A Full Member Of The ICC Be Suspended?
Yes! Of course. The ICC has the authority to suspend any member for misconduct or breach of rules and regulations. As we saw in the case of the Zimbabwe cricket team who is a Full Member, was suspended mainly because of the interference of the government in the sport in July 2019. However, the suspension didn’t last up to a year. Later in October 2019, the suspension was lifted on the Zimbabwe team. The game of cricket has three formats, and they include Test, T20I, and ODI cricket. Although only 12 countries with full memberships of the ICC are allowed to participate in the Test Cricket
Let’s quickly run through the list of countries that participate in Test, ODI, and T20I cricket.
Test Cricket
The longest format and the highest standard of the game of cricket is Test Cricket. It was in March 1877 that the first Test match was played between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The ICC grants the Test status to any international team who wants to play a Test match. Recently, ICC granted the Test status to two new countries in the game (Afghanistan and Ireland) on 22 June 2017. Meaning, a country must have a full membership become it can participate in a Test Cricket competition.
Currently, there are only 12 countries that play Test Cricket in the world.
The table below contains each team that participates in Test Cricket and the date they debuted.
| No | Countries | Debut Date |
| 1 | Australia | 15 March 1877 |
| 2 | England | 15 March 1877 |
| 3 | South Africa | 12 March 1889 |
| 4 | West Indies | 23 June 1928 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 10 January 1930 |
| 6 | India | 25 June 1932 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 16 October 1952 |
| 8 | Sri Lanka | 17 February 1982 |
| 9 | Zimbabwe | 18 October 1992 |
| 10 | Bangladesh | 10 November 2000 |
| 11 | Ireland | 11 May 2018 |
| 12 | Afghanistan | 14 June 2018 |
ODI Cricket
If you’re talking about a form of limited overs cricket which can be played between teams with international status, then you’re talking about the ODI format. It was on 5th of January 1971 that England and Australia played their first ODI match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. ODI has two types of status, which includes Permanent and Temporary ODI status. All the teams with Full Memberships of the ICC have permanent ODI status. Six more teams were granted temporary ODI status in 2005 and four more were granted in 2017. In 2019, countries holding the temporary status were increased to eight.
Now, there are twenty countries playing the ODI Cricket
ODI Playing Countries
| No | Countries |
| 1 | Australia |
| 2 | England |
| 3 | New Zealand |
| 4 | Pakistan |
| 5 | West Indies |
| 6 | India |
| 7 | Sri Lanka |
| 8 | South Africa |
| 9 | Zimbabwe |
| 10 | Bangladesh |
| 11 | Afghanistan |
| 12 | Ireland |
| 13 | Scotland |
| 14 | United Arab Emirates |
| 15 | Nepal |
| 16 | Netherlands |
| 17 | Namibia |
| 18 | Oman |
| 19 | Papua New Guinea |
| 20 | United States |
T20I Cricket
T20 format is one of the most exciting and shortest cricket formats. It was on the 17th of February 2005 that the first T20 International match was played between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park, Auckland. Currently, 90 countries participate in the T20 Cricket tournaments.
The popularity of Cricket Around the World
1. India: The Cricket Crazy Nation
Cricket is not just a sport in India, it’s a religion. Almost unheard of in most parts of the world, cricket enjoys a cult-like following in this South Asian nation. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) being one of the most-watched cricketing events, it’s clear that cricket matches in India are treated as grand national events.
2. Australia: Land of Cricket Pioneers
Australia had its roots in cricketing history deeply embedded ever since the first official cricket match took place in 1877. With each generation passing down the cricket fervor to the next, the Australians’ love for cricket remains undiminished. The Boxing Day Test Match is one of the major highlights in the Australian cricket calendar.
3. England: Birthplace of Cricket
England, being the birthplace of cricket, holds a special place in the cricketing world. The sport arrived here in the late 16th century and has remained one of the most cherished sports. The Ashes series between England and Australia is among the longest-standing cricketing rivalries.
| Country | Description |
|---|---|
| India | Known as the country where cricket is akin to a religion |
| Australia | Recognized for its pioneering history in cricket |
| England | Renowned as the birthplace of cricket with age-old rivalries |
4. Pakistan: A Legacy of Cricket Passion
Cricket passion runs deep veins in Pakistani culture, despite the political unrest and turmoil often associated with the region. Pakistan has produced some of the finest cricketing talent and has a strong domestic cricket structure.
5. South Africa: Home to Modern Cricket Champions
While South Africa’s cricket history is relatively new, compared to countries like England and Australia, it has seen an accelerated development in cricket. South Africa hosts some of the world’s most prolific cricketers and modern cricket heroes.
6. The Caribbean: Enthusiasm for Cricket Comes Alive
Known collectively as the West Indies in cricketing circles, these small island-nations hold a big place in cricketing history. The unique Caribbean style of play and enthusiasm for the sport has spread cricketing fame across the globe.
7. Bangladesh: Rising Cricketing Nation
In the past few decades, Bangladesh has emerged with a rapidly growing interest in cricket. It gained Test status in 2000 and is increasingly becoming a competitive force in international cricket, showcasing the popularity of the sport in the country.
| Country | Description |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | Noted for its deep-rooted cricketing culture despite political unrest |
| South Africa | Home to some well-known modern cricket champions |
| The Caribbean | Renowned for its unique style of play and enthusiasm for cricket |
| Bangladesh | Emerging as a cricketing nation with a rapidly growing interest |
All in all, cricket continues to be a popular sport across diverse regions around the world, transcending national boundaries and cultures. This global popularity is perhaps a reflection of the sport’s ability to evoke passion and excitement among its followers.
Closing Thoughts
There are a total of one hundred and four nations that play cricket across the planet and are members of the ICC. As we stated previously, the membership of each nation is categorized into two groups i.e. Associate Member and Full Member. You will find a full of ninety-two Associate Members who play Test matches and twelve Full Members.
We’ve come to the closing session of this informative article. We hope you were able to find resources in your quest to know the countries that play cricket. Please do not hesitate to contact us for questions or comments. Thanks!
References:
https://www.cricketworld.com/countries/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Cricket_Council_members
Hi! I’m Alex PT. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Indiana University and have over seven years of valuable experience working in a Sports Event Management Company. I founded SportBlurb with the passion for bringing you the latest, most insightful, and engaging content in the world of sports. So, whether you’re a die-hard fan or want to stay informed, I’ve got you covered!
