Durrant Pate/Contributor

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended the USA Cricket Board’s membership with immediate effect, as it builds safeguards to protect athletes and the sport’s Olympic aspirations.

The measures were announced in a media statement issued today and come against the background of its failure to implement a functional governance structure, and significant actions that have caused reputational damage to cricket in the US and around the world are among the reasons for suspension.

The suspension comes after 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.

Reasons for suspension

The suspension 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, 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.

In its statement, the ICC says the suspension is an unfortunate but necessary step to protect the long-term interests of the game, and the ICC’s top priority remains ensuring that the athletes and the sport itself are not impacted due to the suspension. However, the ICC Board has decided that the US national teams will retain their right to participate in ICC events, including preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28).

The management and administration of US 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 US.

The ICC Normalization Committee, supported by the ICC management, will outline the steps required for the suspension of USA Cricket to be lifted and its membership rights 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 consultatory support.

The ICC remains committed to supporting the growth of cricket in the United States, protect the sporting ecosystem and its constituents, namely the athletes and bolstering its march towards a more significant role on the global stage.

Placed on notice

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 jeopardize 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.