USA Cricket suspended by world governing body ICC

In a major setback for cricket in North America, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended USA Cricket’s membership with immediate effect, citing repeated violations of its obligations under the ICC Constitution. The development has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, especially given the sport’s growing ambitions in the United States ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Despite the suspension, the ICC clarified that American players and teams will not be sidelined. The U.S. men’s national team will still participate in upcoming events, including the 2025 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, with their management temporarily overseen by the ICC itself.

ICC’s Reasons for Suspension

In its official statement, the ICC Board pointed to “repeated and continued breaches” of membership obligations by USA Cricket. Among the most critical failures were:

• Governance Failures: USA Cricket did not establish a functional governance structure, leaving the organization plagued by internal disputes and administrative inefficiencies.

• Lack of Olympic Alignment: The body failed to make sufficient progress in gaining National Governing Body (NGB) status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), a step necessary to align cricket with the Olympic movement in America.

• Reputational Damage: The ICC cited “significant actions” that have damaged the image of cricket both within the United States and internationally, though specific details were not disclosed.

These issues had been flagged earlier. At the 2024 ICC Annual General Meeting, USA Cricket was officially put “on notice” and given 12 months to resolve compliance shortcomings. However, after little progress was made, the ICC moved forward with suspension in 2025.

While the suspension strips USA Cricket of its voting rights and administrative control within the ICC, athletes and teams will continue to compete.

The ICC has emphasized that the suspension is meant to reform governance rather than punish players.

“The suspension is an unfortunate but necessary step to protect the long-term interests of the game. The ICC’s top priority remains ensuring that athletes and the sport itself are not impacted,” the governing body said in its official statement.

For the near future, the ICC will directly oversee team operations, ensuring that U.S. cricketers do not lose momentum ahead of key tournaments.

USA’s Recent Cricketing Rise

The timing of the suspension is particularly striking, given the strong progress of American cricket on the field in recent years.

• At the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, hosted jointly by the USA and West Indies, the American team impressed by advancing to the Super Eight stage, a performance that stunned higher-ranked sides and thrilled local fans.

• That performance secured automatic qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup, cementing USA’s reputation as an emerging cricketing nation.

• Cricket was officially included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, making the U.S. a key player in the sport’s global expansion strategy.

The ICC suspension, therefore, comes at a critical juncture, threatening to slow momentum just as the sport was finding new traction in America.

Behind the scenes, USA Cricket has long struggled with financial instability and governance disputes. Reports suggest:

• The board has been riddled with infighting, delaying strategic decisions.

• There were concerns over mismanagement of funds, which hindered grassroots development programs.

• The lack of clear leadership has created friction between administrators, coaches, and stakeholders.

These challenges mirror past issues in U.S. cricket. In 2017, the ICC had suspended the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) over governance and financial irregularities, later replacing it with USA Cricket as the official governing body.

The recurrence of such issues raises concerns over whether the U.S. is capable of building a sustainable cricket administration.

The suspension has sparked a mix of concern and hope within the cricketing world.

• Supporters of the ICC decision argue that strong governance is essential to protect cricket’s credibility in new markets.

• Critics worry that the suspension could derail cricket’s Olympic ambitions and stall momentum in the U.S. at a time when the sport is finally gaining mainstream attention.

Analysts suggest that the ICC’s direct oversight could help stabilize the situation, provided reforms are implemented quickly.

The suspension underscores the challenges of expanding cricket into non-traditional markets. While the United States offers massive commercial potential, administrative instability has repeatedly threatened progress.

The coming months will be decisive. With the 2025 T20 World Cup, the 2026 tournament, and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, USA Cricket cannot afford prolonged uncertainty.