Khalid Al Zarooni, President of the UAE's Emirates Cricket Board, was unanimously elected as Vice-President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) at the body's annual general meeting, the ACC confirmed on Sunday, 24 August 2025. In the same session, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was formally added to the roster of full member boards eligible to assume the ACC Presidency.

Key Decisions at the Annual General Meeting

The meeting, held on Saturday, covered what the ACC described as 'key governance matters, including elections to the ACC Executive Board, the rotation policy of the ACC Presidency, and the formation of various ACC committees.' Al Zarooni's election to the Vice-Presidency was the headline outcome, with the continental body confirming the result was unanimous.

The ACC also confirmed the election of representatives from non-Test-playing nations and associate members to the ACC Executive Board for the 2026–2028 term. Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Saoud Al Thani, President of the Qatar Cricket Association, and Mahmood Gaznavi, President of the Singapore Cricket Association, were appointed from the non-Test-playing nations. Mohamed Faisal of the Cricket Board of Maldives and Mohammad Mansoor of the Bahrain Cricket Federation will share the remaining term on the Executive Board.

Afghanistan Cricket Board Added to Presidency Rotation

A significant structural change saw the ACB added to the 'roster of Full Member Boards that may assume the Presidency of the Asian Cricket Council.' Previously, the Presidency rotated exclusively among India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Afghanistan's inclusion marks a meaningful expansion of governance representation within Asian cricket's apex body.

This comes amid broader efforts by the ACC to widen participation in its leadership structures, reflecting the growing stature of associate and emerging cricket nations across the continent.

New ACC Committees Formed

The meeting also confirmed the formation of new ACC committees tasked with supporting 'governance, administration, cricket development, competitions, finance, and other key areas.' The move signals a more structured institutional framework for the council going forward.

ACC President Mohsin Naqvi's Statement

ACC President Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the outcomes, stating: 'Cricket in Asia has always been more than a game — it is a shared language that connects nations, cultures and generations. The decisions taken at this Annual General Meeting reflect the maturity of our governance and our collective resolve to build institutions that will serve the sport long after we have left these positions.'

Naqvi added: 'I congratulate our newly elected Vice President and Executive Board Members, and I thank every Member Board for the spirit of unity and cooperation that continues to define this Council. Our responsibility now is to carry this vision forward with humility, discipline and an unwavering commitment to the game — for the players of today, and for the generations of Asian cricketers yet to come.'

The decisions are expected to shape ACC's governance architecture through the end of the decade, with the newly constituted committees set to begin work in the coming weeks.