ICC Suspends USA Cricket Membership Over Governance Breaches and Obligations

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the immediate suspension of USA Cricket's full membership on Tuesday, citing repeated breaches of its obligations under the ICC Constitution. The decision, made by the ICC Board following a year-long review and consultations with stakeholders, addresses longstanding issues that have hindered the sport's development in the United States.

Despite the suspension, USA's national teams will continue participating in ICC events, including preparations for cricket's Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, to safeguard athletes and maintain competitive momentum.

The ICC highlighted several key violations, including USA Cricket's inability to establish a functional governance structure, stalled progress toward recognition as a National Governing Body by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and actions that inflicted reputational harm on the sport domestically and globally.

These lapses have undermined efforts to professionalize cricket in a nation where the game has struggled for mainstream traction despite growing interest. The suspension aims to protect the "long-term interests of the game," with ICC management or its representatives temporarily overseeing USA national teams' administration to ensure uninterrupted high-performance programs and player development.

A Normalization Committee, backed by ICC support, will guide USA Cricket through remedial steps to reinstate its membership. These include concrete reforms in governance, operations, and integration within the global cricket ecosystem, with ongoing monitoring and advisory assistance. This structured pathway underscores the ICC's commitment to resolution rather than prolonged disruption, reflecting lessons from past interventions in member nations like Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, where similar committees facilitated recoveries.

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The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of USA Cricket's role in hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup alongside the West Indies, an event that spotlighted the U.S. as a potential growth market. Placed on notice at the ICC's 2024 annual conference for non-compliance, USA Cricket had 12 months to address deficiencies but fell short.

As cricket eyes Olympic inclusion to expand its footprint beyond traditional strongholds, the suspension serves as a cautionary signal on the governance standards required for emerging markets. Stakeholders anticipate swift reforms to avoid jeopardizing LA28 preparations, where six teams will compete in T20 format, marking the sport's return to the Olympics after 128 years.

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