ICC Suspends USA Cricket Over Governance Failures, Safeguards Olympic Hopes

Dubai — In a major development for cricket in the United States, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially suspended the membership status of USA Cricket, effective immediately. The decision was taken by the ICC Board following a comprehensive review and sustained engagement with stakeholders over the past year.

The suspension stems from repeated violations of ICC membership obligations, including USA Cricket’s failure to implement a functional governance structure, its lack of progress in achieving National Governing Body (NGB) status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and actions that have caused “significant reputational damage” to cricket both in the U.S. and globally.

Despite the suspension, USA national teams will continue to be eligible to participate in ICC events, including preparations for cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28). To protect the interests of players and maintain high-performance continuity, the ICC will temporarily oversee the management and administration of USA national teams through its own officials or appointed representatives.

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“This unfortunate but necessary decision was made to protect the long-term interests of the sport,” the ICC said in a statement. “Our top priority remains the welfare of athletes and the continued development of cricket in the U.S.”

A specially formed ICC Normalisation Committee, working alongside ICC management, will now define the roadmap for lifting the suspension. USA Cricket must implement “demonstrable and specific changes” in governance, operations, and organizational accountability. The committee will also monitor compliance and provide strategic guidance during the transition period.

The ICC reaffirmed its commitment to growing the game in the United States and emphasized that it will safeguard the progress made towards Olympic participation and grassroots development.

USA Cricket was formally placed “on notice” at the 2024 ICC Annual General Meeting for failing to meet ICC Membership Criteria. Given 12 months to rectify the situation, the board warned USA Cricket to avoid any actions that could jeopardize cricket’s Olympic inclusion or bring the game or the ICC into disrepute. Despite prior commitments, continued non-compliance led to today’s suspension.

The move sends a strong signal that while the ICC remains invested in U.S. cricket’s growth, accountability and governance standards must be upheld to maintain international credibility and stakeholder trust.