The ECB is neutral on the proposal, whereas the Welsh Government states it is for the cricket bodies to decide, but recognises the opportunity for Sophia Gardens in Cardiff to host England matches.

[1][2] The team was assembled to play first-class matches, and was mainly supported by the Welsh Cricket Union and Gwilym Rowland, a Denbighshire-based businessman.

[3] Wales competed in the 1979 ICC Trophy as a non-ICC team, playing by invitation after the late withdrawal of Gibraltar.

[1][3] Wales won two of four matches, against the Netherlands and Israel, and narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-finals to the United States.

[12] However the use of the term "England", omitting Wales, has been criticised, and Scottish cricket executives are optimistic of their team's development.

[7] Politicians across the political spectrum have stated their support for a standalone team such as Jonathan Edwards,[16][17] Bethan Sayed, Adam Price and Mohammad Asghar, with Sayed stating in 2013 that "Wales is the second-oldest cricket playing country in the world, yet it is alone in the British Isles in not having its own national side",[1] and Asghar stating in 2021 "if Afghanistan can play world cricket, then for God’s sake Wales should"[18] and that playing on the international stage would "raise Wales' profile" and be economically beneficial while dismissing concerns from Glamorgan.

[22] In June 2010 a motion for establishing a "Welsh International 20-20 and one day cricket team" was tabled to the UK parliament.

][24] A 2013 Assembly debate was held on the topic with both Conservative and Labour members supporting the establishment of a Welsh team.

[14][25][26][27][28][29] Calls were also made for a separate team following England's early departure from the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia.

[25] Plaid Cymru included the proposal in its 2016 National Assembly for Wales election manifesto, although the issue was not part of negotiations with Welsh Labour.

[2] Alan Hamer, chief executive of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, stated they had informed the Welsh Government in 2011 of their opposition.

[8][34] Mike Hedges, Labour AM, expressed his opposition to the idea in 2013, arguing that separation from the ECB would require Wales to "set up its own board under the ICC", causing Glamorgan to leave the County Championship, including any "shared-out revenue" with Sky, and the halting of test matches at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff.

[7] Peter Black, Liberal Democrat AM, stated in 2013 that it would be "decades for Wales to be playing cricket with the top teams" and having Glamorgan in the County Championship delivered "great matches over the years".

[58] England is not the only country to have fielded Welsh cricketers: Imad Wasim, born in Swansea, earned 130 caps and took 117 wickets for Pakistan in ODIs and T20Is between 2015 and 2024.