India-Pakistan cricket future to be discussed at ICC's July meeting in Singapore

Jay Shah at ICC HQs (Source: Jay Shah/X)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to host its Annual General Meeting in Singapore from July 17 to 20. This high-profile gathering of cricket’s top administrators are expected to come together to discuss several issues on the agenda, including the square-offs between India and Pakistan due to political tensions and governance improvements.

The 2025 Annual Conference holds immense importance this year, considering the relations between India and Pakistan. The recent Pahalgam attacks have aggravated the ongoing diplomatic concerns, triggering widespread speculation about whether will continue to play with Pakistan. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied any formal decision to pull out of the Asia Cup or suspend cricketing ties in future ICC events, the India-Pakistan issue could likely be the major talking point in the discussions in Singapore.

This will be the first annual conference under the newly-appointed Chairman Jay Shah. Since taking the duties, Shah has announced the construction of teams to support displaced Afghan women cricketers. Among the major issues expected to be addressed is the potential phasing out of the two-ball rule in ODIs.

ICC considering converting U-19 Men’s World Cup to T20 format

Meanwhile, many are in support of the single ball rule after the 25th over to help bowlers in extracting reverse swing, especially in death overs. Another suggestion is about introducing a 60-second time limit between overs in Test matches to improve the pace of play, along with in-game clocks to help captains manage time more effectively.

There are also plans to revamp age-group cricket, with the ICC considering converting the U-19 Men’s World Cup to a T20 format, similar to that of the Women’s tournament. Furthermore, the conference will see the election of three new representatives from Associate nations to the ICC’s Chief Executives Committee. The elections will be decided by 45 Associate Members, and the new representatives will follow a two-year term.