LONDON, June 28: Slovenia, Mali and the English Channel islands of Jersey and Guernsey have been granted membership of the International Cricket Council, the start of a journey that could one day pit them against the world’s best.

The four will join nations like Iran and Panama as affiliate members who can compete in ICC regional development games and potentially qualify for the World Cup, cricket’s One-day International showpiece.

The ICC also elevated Botswana, Japan, Kuwait, Belgium and Thailand to associate member status at its annual conference at Lord’s on Tuesday, putting them on a par with Scotland and a notch down from full members such as Australia.

The leading lower tier sides compete for the ICC Trophy in Ireland next month with the five best teams from that competition qualifying for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

The ICC has 54 affiliate, 32 associate and 10 full members.—Reuters