What ICC Membership brings

Funding and status comes ahead of Uzbekistan's planned cricket ground construction, with a facility in Tashkent likely to be a base for both operations and elite-level play.

"We've started constructing a turf pitch (7 pitches in a row) stadium. Now, ground levelling and pitch filling had started. The ground is fenced, with water, and electricity connections provided." - says Aziz G. Mihliev.

An eight-team Uzbekistan Premier League will likely run after Covid complications stifled earlier plans, while bilateral play with Tajikistan looks on the agenda. Uzbekistan has hosted visits from Tajik cricket representatives in times gone by, and improved geo-political relations with their neighbours will only help the bond when bat and ball are involved.

"Overall, ICC is a lighthouse for CFU to find the right direction," Mihliev sums up.

"With the help of ICC we can develop our cricket in a professional way. We get training for our coaches, umpires, curators and matches for our cricketers."