The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended USA Cricket’s membership with immediate effect. The decision was made at the ICC Board meeting after a year-long review and talks with stakeholders.
The ICC said the move came after “repeated and continued breaches” of USA Cricket’s obligations as a member. The suspension follows concerns about governance, recognition, and the reputation of the sport in the United States.
USA Cricket failed to build a proper governance structure. It also failed to make progress in being recognised as a National Governing Body by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). The ICC added that repeated actions had caused “reputational damage” to the game.
USA National teams to still play ICC Events
Despite the suspension, USA’s national teams will remain eligible to compete in ICC events. This includes tournaments leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. To make sure cricket continues to grow, the ICC and its appointed representatives will temporarily oversee the management of the USA national sides. The focus will be on player development and high-performance programmes.
The ICC also announced the creation of a Normalisation Committee. This group, supported by ICC management, will decide the reforms needed for USA Cricket to regain its membership. The committee will look at governance, operations, and structure. It will also monitor and support USA Cricket during the transition.
In a statement, the ICC said:
“The suspension is an unfortunate but necessary step to protect the long-term interests of the game.”
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The global body added that it remains committed to the sport’s future in the United States. It promised to continue supporting the players and working on ways to grow cricket in the country.
With the Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, the ICC said its priority will be to keep the teams ready while fixing USA Cricket’s off-field issues.
