This is one of the main recommendations contained in the Woolf Report on the international cricket body released yesterday.

The report said the ICC must make significant changes if it is to survive in the modern era.

Judge Harry Woolf, the former chief justice of England and Wales, was commissioned to investigate ways of improving the operations of the world cricket governing body. He was assisted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in conducting the independent investigation.

The report was published on the ICC's website yesterday. It contains a string of recommendations aimed at improving the management of international cricket.

The report also proposes the creation of a new position - that of an elected and salaried chairman of the board - and those of three independent directors to serve on a three-yearly basis from 2014.

The proposal was accepted unanimously at the ICC's board meeting this week.

A clearer pathway to full member status for associate nations, which would allow smaller countries to play test cricket, has also been put forward.

"Currently, the ICC reacts as though it is primarily a members' club; its interest in enhancing the global development of the game is secondary.

"In today's environment, this is not an acceptable situation. Cricket is a global game and there is a need for global governance," it said.

The report urges members to put the interests of cricket ahead of their "own short-term parochial interests".

It also said the ICC should be given powers to rule on such matters as the mandatory use of the decision review system in international cricket and the structure of its own tournaments.

The report suggests removing test status as a requirement to be a full member of the ICC, which could open the door for Ireland to step up to the top table of world cricket.