Teams such as Jersey and Japan are expected to benefit from the ICC's new funding package © CricketEurope/ICC Enlarge

The ICC has announced that it will invest US$300 million over the next seven years for the development of the game outside the ten Full Member countries, terming it as the "biggest investment in global development by any sport outside football."

"We want to see results that challenge world cricket's existing order," Haroon Lorgat, the new ICC chief execuitive, said. "And we want to develop better players and better structures on and off the field, giving everyone the chance to be the best they can be."

Lorgat said the initiative was made possible due to a number of commercial agreements. "Thanks to agreements with our commercial partners, foremost among them the one we signed in December 2006 with ESPN Star Sports [reported to be worth $1.1 billion], the game is financially secure."

The funding package, which begins next year, is expected to benefit the 94 Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC, and the annual amount, approx. $40 million, is significantly higher than the $18 million put forward this year. "This fresh cash injection highlights we are a not-for-profit organisation. All the revenue we generate from our events, broadcast and commercial agreements is ploughed back into the game," he said. "It is also an indication of how strong this great game is at present.

"Participation is at an all-time high in all our members at all levels. Thanks to the World Cricket League, all Associate and Affiliate Members now have a clear pathway through to one of the crown jewels of the game, the World Cup."