The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday suspended USA Cricket’s membership with immediate effect, citing repeated violations of its obligations as an ICC member.
The suspension comes just three years before cricket’s long-awaited return to the Olympics at the Los Angeles Games 2028.
In a statement, the ICC said the move followed “a thorough review of affairs and extensive engagement with key stakeholders over the past year.”
“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 a ICC Member under the ICC’s Constitution,” the ICC said.
“These include, but are not limited to, the failure to implement a functional governance structure, 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 around the world,” it added.
The governing body stressed that the suspension was necessary to protect the “long term interests of the game” but reassured that athletes would not suffer.
“ICC Board has decided that USA’s national teams will retain their right to participate in ICC events, including preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28),” the ICC said.
“The management and administration of USA national teams will temporarily be overseen by the ICC and/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 the sustenance of a High-performance & Player development program which will seek to elevate the stature and capabilities of players representing the USA,” the statement said.
The ICC further said its Normalisation Committee will “outline the steps required for the suspension on USA Cricket to be lifted and its membership rights restored,” including governance reforms and operational restructuring.
USA Cricket had already been warned at the ICC’s annual general meeting in 2024 for “non-compliance with ICC Membership Criteria and given 12 months to remedy that non-compliance,” despite co-hosting last year’s T20 World Cup in the Americas.
The suspension comes just three years before cricket’s long-awaited return to the Olympics at the Los Angeles Games 2028.
In a statement, the ICC said the move followed “a thorough review of affairs and extensive engagement with key stakeholders over the past year.”
“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 a ICC Member under the ICC’s Constitution,” the ICC said.
“These include, but are not limited to, the failure to implement a functional governance structure, 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 around the world,” it added.
The governing body stressed that the suspension was necessary to protect the “long term interests of the game” but reassured that athletes would not suffer.
“ICC Board has decided that USA’s national teams will retain their right to participate in ICC events, including preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28),” the ICC said.
“The management and administration of USA national teams will temporarily be overseen by the ICC and/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 the sustenance of a High-performance & Player development program which will seek to elevate the stature and capabilities of players representing the USA,” the statement said.
The ICC further said its Normalisation Committee will “outline the steps required for the suspension on USA Cricket to be lifted and its membership rights restored,” including governance reforms and operational restructuring.
USA Cricket had already been warned at the ICC’s annual general meeting in 2024 for “non-compliance with ICC Membership Criteria and given 12 months to remedy that non-compliance,” despite co-hosting last year’s T20 World Cup in the Americas.
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