ADVERTISEMENTs
ICC suspends USA Cricket membership; breaches as member cited reason
However, USA’s national teams will retain their right to participate in ICC events, including preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
-
Prabhjot Paul Singh - Tue, 23, Sep 2025
- 23:27 EDT
- 25
International Cricket Council logo / Wikipedia
With less than three years to go before cricket returns to the Olympic family, the International Cricket Council took a major decision to suspend the membership of USA Cricket, while promising to protect the long-term interests of the game.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), following a thorough review of its affairs and extensive engagement with key stakeholders over the past year, has today confirmed the suspension of USA Cricket's ICC membership status, effective immediately.
ALSO READ: ICC suspends USA Cricket membership over breaches
The decision, taken by the ICC Board during its meeting earlier, was based on USA Cricket’s repeated and continued breaches of its obligations as an ICC Member under the ICC’s Constitution. These include, but are not limited to, the failure to implement a functional governance structure, a lack of progress toward achieving National Governing Body status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and significant actions that have caused reputational damage to cricket in the United States and worldwide.
The ICC’s top priority, according to an official release, remains ensuring that the athletes and the sport itself are not impacted by the suspension. The ICC Board has decided that the USA’s national teams will retain their right to participate in ICC events, including preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28).
The USA Cricket was placed ‘on notice’ at the 2024 ICC Annual General Meeting for non-compliance with ICC Membership Criteria and given 12 months to remedy that non-compliance. On account of continued non-compliance with the ICC Membership Criteria, USA Cricket was to be considered for suspension at the 2025 AGM.
It was only because of a representation made to the ICC normalisation committee by USA Cricket and commitments made thereafter to the ICC Board in July, that the ICC Membership voted to keep them ‘on notice’. When USAC was notified of the AGM’s decision, it was specifically advised in writing that, along with fulfilling the commitments it made to the Board and taking immediate steps in that respect, it must (i) not do/omit to do anything that might jeopardise cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics, and (ii) not do anything (by act or omission) that brings cricket or the ICC into disrepute or is contrary to the best interests of cricket or the ICC.
Meanwhile, as an interim arrangement, the management and administration of USA national teams will be temporarily overseen by the ICC or its designated representatives to ensure continued support for the players and maintain momentum towards Olympic inclusion. This approach reflects the ICC’s firm commitment to upholding the best interests of cricketers in the USA and sustaining a high-performance and player development program, which will seek to elevate the stature and capabilities of players representing the USA.
Although the USA has already qualified for the T20 World Cup, the future of the game, as well as the interests of players, despite ICC assurances, are likely to be impacted, including the holding of some franchise events in the coming months.
The USA and the West Indies had jointly organised the previous T20 World Cup. There has been a growing popularity of this sport on the North American continent, reflected by increasing interest in holding T20 and T10 competitions that involve stars from both the present and past eras.
The ICC Normalisation Committee, supported by ICC management, will outline the steps required for the suspension of USA Cricket to be lifted and its membership rights to be restored. These will include demonstrable and specific changes to USA Cricket’s governance structure, operations, and overall status in the Cricket ecosystem. The normalisation committee will also monitor USA Cricket’s progress and provide consultative support.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login