THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL (ICC) approved a loan of US$12.82 million to Cricket West Indies (CWI) to support the financially challenged governing body.
It has also appointed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia as the chair of its newly constituted Governance Review Committee, one of two new sub-committees established during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh.
The ICC Board sanctioned a US$12.82 million loan to Cricket West Indies to improve the board’s financial stability. CWI has been facing significant cash-flow pressures, having reported a net loss of approximately US$28 million for the financial year ending September 2025 and projecting another substantial deficit during the current cycle. The governing body had previously indicated that ICC financing, alongside commercial borrowing, would be necessary to bridge its funding gap.
The financial assistance follows a series of reforms undertaken by Cricket West Indies in recent years as it seeks to strengthen its commercial operations and governance. The board has also initiated broader restructuring efforts, including appointing advisory firm Teneo to review its commercial strategy and organisational framework, while simultaneously exploring international partnerships to enhance its long-term financial sustainability.
Saikia will lead the Governance Review Committee, which has been created to strengthen governance standards, regulatory oversight and institutional accountability across ICC member nations. Joining him on the committee are Dr Mohammed Moosajee of Cricket South Africa and ICC Independent Director Dr Ros Rivaz. The formation of the committee reflects the ICC’s increasing focus on governance reforms and compliance among its Full and Associate Members.
In addition to this appointment, Saikia has also been named a member of the newly formed Franchise Leagues Committee. The committee will be chaired by former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and includes Cricket Namibia’s Dr Rudie van Vuuren, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Richard Gould and Cricket Australia Chief Executive Todd Greenberg. The committee is expected to examine issues relating to the rapidly expanding global franchise cricket ecosystem, including scheduling, governance and the relationship between domestic leagues and the international calendar.
The ICC Annual Conference also produced several other governance decisions. Mauritius was admitted as the ICC’s 111th member, reinstatement conditions for Cricket Canada were approved, and Sri Lanka Cricket’s constitutional reforms were reviewed. The ICC confirmed that Sri Lanka Cricket will continue to be excluded from representation at ICC Board meetings until elections are held under its revised constitution, while France Cricket was placed on notice for breaching ICC membership criteria.
Saikia’s appointment marks another significant milestone for Indian cricket administration following former BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s elevation as ICC Chair. It further strengthens India’s influence within the global governing body at a time when the ICC is undertaking major reforms across governance, tournament structures and commercial operations.
