The ICC is facing fresh controversy just days before the 2026 T20 World Cup, locked in a dispute with the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) over players’ rights and participation conditions.
The governing body has already been criticised for excluding Bangladesh from the tournament, and now the WCA has raised concerns over proposed terms that it says violate a 2024 agreement with players. The association has described the new conditions as overly “exploitative,” particularly for players on lower incomes.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the WCA claims that the ICC has sent players conditions that conflict with the 2024 agreement. Under the previous deal, players retained the right to negotiate aspects such as media appearances, dressing-room access, commercial licences, and use of personal data. The ICC’s new conditions, however, remove this requirement, giving boards full authority over players’ decisions.
One major point of contention is image use. Players would be compelled to grant licences to third parties, allowing commercial partners to use images of multiple team members, whereas the 2024 agreement placed stricter limits and required consultation with the WCA. Ownership of players’ biological and personal data is another disputed area, with the ICC seeking control while the WCA insists players must retain rights.
Perhaps the most controversial clause assumes that any player participating in the World Cup automatically accepts all terms, regardless of whether they have formally agreed. The WCA has strongly opposed this “imposed consent” approach.
The ICC says the 2024 agreement applied only to eight national boards: Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland. Bangladesh is not included, having declined to travel to India, and Scotland replaced them in the group.
Among the other 12 participating nations, boards in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Oman and the UAE do not recognise the WCA, leaving players in those countries outside the association. Other nations with recognised players’ bodies — including Italy, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Namibia, the United States and Canada — had not received the new conditions by 15 January, raising fears the disputed terms would be extended to them.
WCA chief executive Tom Moffat has accused the ICC and its member boards of undermining protections due to players, effectively seeking control over individuals. He warns that financially weaker or semi-professional players are most at risk.
“The ICC’s conditions severely erode players’ rights,” Moffat said. “Imposing stricter terms on those with limited income is deeply concerning. For many, ICC events are their main source of earnings.”
The WCA has emphasised it does not want to disrupt the T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on 7 February 2026, but stresses that immediate resolution of the dispute is essential. The ICC has yet to respond to a follow-up letter from the WCA.
