ICC Cancels Doha Meetings Amid West Asia Conflict

COLOMBO (News 1st); The ICC Board and committee meetings scheduled to be held later this month in Doha have been cancelled due to the ongoing military conflict in West Asia.

According to ESPNcricinfo, specific meetings, particularly those involving the finance committee, will now take place virtually over the coming weeks.

The possibility of in‑person meetings in April remains open, but that will depend on whether airspace reopens sufficiently for board and committee members to travel safely, said ESPNcricinfo.

The meetings, originally set for March 25 to 27, were expected to bring together ICC Board Directors, Chief Executives, committee members and ICC senior leadership.

Three major items were on the agenda: global broadcasting rights as the current ICC-JioStar agreement ends in 2027; initial discussions on the next Future Tours Programme (FTP); and Olympic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Informal conversations on the FTP have already begun, with several members sounding out others as they shape cricket’s next four‑year cycle, said ESPNcricinfo.

This was set to be the ICC’s first‑ever meeting in Qatar, a country reporting a cricket participation growth rate of 447%. However, restricted flight availability made hosting the meetings impossible.

The crisis in West Asia has also affected international scheduling. The white‑ball series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, due to take place in the UAE from March 13 to 25, is now likely to be postponed indefinitely.