Cricket Switzerland is set to submit an application to the ICC for associate membership ©Cricket Switzerland

Cricket Switzerland has announced plans to re-join the International Cricket Council (ICC) - eight years after the country was suspended over non-compliance.

The ICC stripped Switzerland of its affiliate status in 2012 after the creation of a second organisation, Schweizerischer Cricket Verband, which claimed to oversee the sport in the country.

Cricket Switzerland, which was previously known as the Swiss Cricket Association, has now claimed it is "well placed to steer Switzerland back into the international fold".

A statement on Cricket Switzerland’s website confirmed it had "notified" the ICC of its intention to submit an application for associate membership before the end of the year.

The organisation said documentation "supporting all the membership criteria" was being collated with the aim of sending its application to the ICC next month.

If successful, Cricket Switzerland’s membership will be put to the ICC’s Annual General Meeting which is due to be held midway through 2021.

Switzerland lost its ICC associate membership in 2012 due to non-compliance ©Cricket Switzerland
Switzerland lost its ICC associate membership in 2012 due to non-compliance ©Cricket Switzerland

"Cricket Switzerland is the only body in Switzerland with a domestic competition structure for senior and youth cricketers," a statement from Cricket Switzerland read.

"It includes international representation, a working development plan for women’s cricket, and skills development in the fields of coaching, umpiring and scoring.

"Cricket Switzerland is well placed to steer Switzerland back into the international fold, where it plans to take an active role in the development of the game.

"Also, as members of Swiss Olympic - the umbrella organisation for all sports in Switzerland - since 2018, Cricket Switzerland is recognised domestically as the body responsible for cricket in this country.

"Since the split in 2012 and the creation of Cricket Switzerland in 2014, the association membership has almost doubled in size.

"Cricket Switzerland is now the pre-eminent cricket body in Switzerland.

"And it continues to grow, with two further clubs due to apply for membership in 2021."

USA Cricket was the last organisation to be appointed as an ICC associate member in 2019.

There are 32 associate members in Europe, plus two full members - Cricket Ireland and the England and Wales Cricket Board.