15-16 teams to soon play cricket at the highest level, says ICC

"The ICC has a strategy to have more competitive teams playing at the highest level. For too long we had 10 Full Members. If we are honest with ourselves, there are eight, probably nine, teams that can play cricket at the highest level,” said Richardson in Sri Lanka.

“We like to increase that number to 15-16 countries the likes of Afghanistan, Nepal, Malaysia and various other countries in the Asian region. It's very important that we can develop their cricket to a level where they can play against the big boys on an equal basis,” ESPNcricnfo quoted him as saying.

Richardson also hinted at proposals that would do wonders for international cricket.

"Those proposals would cover governance and a new revised financial model, which would hopefully provide all the Full Members with a bigger slice of the cake than what it is currently envisaged," he said.

"The international game has gone through a period of turbulence, where the governance, the financial model, the playing [of the game] was in turmoil by the resolutions passed by the ICC in 2014. What happened in 2014 took place because unfortunately countries like South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand were not able to stand up to the big boys. I don't think that will happen again,” he added, referring to two years ago when India, Australia and England had amassed disproportionate power at the world body.