For your information, here is an exhaustive list of the current ICC Associate and Affiliate Members.
You are welcome to use this forum to discuss cricket in any of the countries listed above in relation to one day matches. Other formats such as three or four day matches should be discussed in the International Test Cricket forum.

I couldn't ever imagine a thriller in Lisbon between Portugal and Rwanda!!! I think it is fair to say that only perhaps 2 more nations will be granted test status in the not too distant future(20 years)...Kenya and Canada

Us Pro-Dutch members reckon we have as good a chance of being elevated as Kenya, Canada or Ireland!

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The best solution would probably be the 2-tier test league. Then a second tier could include Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Holland, Scotland, Canada, Kenya and Namibia. Then a play-off between the bottom team in the top tier and the top team in the bottom tier for promotion/relegation. I know this has been suggested before, but I think it would be the best way of improving standards of cricket in ICC non-test nations overall.

Two tier comp sounds good

Any 2 division set-up would surely have to include Ireland given the fact that in the last 2 seasons they have defeated Zimbabwe, Surrey, Bangladesh and the West Indies, before they went on to win the Champions Trophy!
Maybe if they qualify for the WC after this years ICC Trophy people will take more notice?

Welcome Paddyirishman.

Yes I do believe Ireland are on the up, but have to get into the World Cup to trouble my mind!!!

I have a couple of french friends that have represented France at cricket at the under 19 level as recently as in the Eurpeon Championships in Denmark, for their sake, I hope some day France play test cricket, and that I am alive to see it when that happens.

I think the thing that makes a big difference to the associate nations is the amount of 'foreigners' in each team. Eg The Scotland team that won the intercontinental cup had 6 players not born in Scotland. I know Ireland has 3 but realistically this is only going to make up for their county players who are not released. Canada, USA and the UAE will all arrive at the ICC Trophy with teams of non-nationals!

I think you are right. That factor is a issue as this stage, but I guess with time it will change. Even the French U-19 team I talked about earlier had no direct French players (I think) my friends I talked about are half Aussie-half English so they got cricket interest by default, other players in the French side including their best players is I think from Indian backgrounds as well, and their players mostly are young kids from immigrant families from test playing nations.

So I think you are right, initially to start with the biggest problem minnow teams will have is to get native players, I guess we just have to wait, may be the locals will take interest and start participating on their own in cricket games at school and other levels if the national side does well. I mean if suppose Candad or anyone beats some big team in the world cup, I'm sure that would help attract young Canadian kids to take up the sport at school or at least develope a fan following for their national side.