ICC suspends USA Cricket following governance breaches
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended USA Cricket’s membership with immediate effect, citing continued non-compliance with its obligations as an ICC member. The move marks a major escalation in ICC’s effort to overhaul the governance and leadership structure of the sport in the United States, a key growth market with Olympic ambitions.
The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of the ICC Board and follows more than a year of review, warnings, and stakeholder consultations. Despite repeated interventions and a formal three-month deadline issued at its Annual General Meeting in July, ICC determined that USA Cricket had failed to demonstrate meaningful progress.
Among the breaches cited were the failure to implement a functional governance structure, lack of progress toward achieving National Governing Body (NGB) status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and actions that have caused reputational harm to cricket in the U.S. and globally.
National teams to continue under ICC oversight
While USA Cricket’s membership has been suspended, the ICC emphasized that the country’s national teams will remain eligible to compete in ICC events. This includes the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in 2024 and preparations for cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28).
The ICC confirmed that the ‘management and administration of USA national teams will temporarily be overseen by the ICC and/or its designated representatives’. The approach is designed to protect players and ensure continued investment in high-performance and development pathways.
ICC reiterated its commitment to the athletes, stating the suspension is ‘an unfortunate but necessary step to protect the long-term interests of the game’.
A roadmap for reform and Olympic inclusion
The suspension follows USA Cricket’s failure to implement reforms outlined in the ICC’s six-step ‘roadmap’ designed to help the organization attain NGB status with the USOPC — a requirement for participation in LA28.
The plan, drawn up by the ICC Normalisation Committee and supported by ICC management, includes the appointment of three new independent directors, followed by the full resignation of the current Board and the organization of ‘free and fair elections’.
The ICC had also called for ‘comprehensive’ governance reforms and announced that a ‘complete review and reform’ of USA Cricket’s Constitution ‘shall be undertaken’ in consultation with independent directors and ICC stakeholders.
The Normalisation Committee will now monitor progress, consult with stakeholders, and outline the steps required to lift the suspension and restore USA Cricket’s membership rights.
ICC’s written conditions and final warning
USA Cricket had already been placed ‘on notice’ at the 2024 ICC Annual General Meeting for non-compliance with membership criteria. It was only after a representation made to the ICC Normalisation Committee and follow-up commitments in July that ICC members voted to keep the organization on notice instead of suspending it at that time.
When USAC was informed of that decision, the ICC issued a formal advisory warning the board to:
“not do/omit to do anything that might jeopardise cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics”
“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”
The ICC had also stated that it ‘reserved the right to take any action’ it deemed necessary based on the pace and quality of USAC’s progress.
That threshold, according to the ICC Board, has now been crossed.
Player impact and ACE dispute deepen crisis
The situation has been further complicated by USA Cricket’s recent decision to terminate its commercial agreement with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the operator of Major League and Minor League Cricket. The termination has been legally challenged by ACE, and several players have voiced concern over the uncertainty it has created.
It remains unclear who will now manage day-to-day operations of cricket in the U.S., particularly at the domestic level, while the ICC oversees national team structures.
USOPC and stakeholders urged reform
The USOPC has also weighed in, advocating for structural reform within USA Cricket. In a communication to USAC CEO Johnathan Atkeison, David Patterson, Senior Governance Advisor at USOPC, recommended that:
‘the Independent members of the USA Cricket Board of Directors resign’
‘Independent members are appointed to replace those Independent members’
Concerns had also been raised by U.S. stakeholders — including three regional boards from New Jersey, Dallas, and Southern California — to the ICC’s Nominations Governance Committee (NGC). These concerns reportedly included allegations of ‘material conflict of interest’ and questions around the validity of ethics committee appointments.
While neither the ICC nor NGC members publicly responded to these submissions, the mounting complaints added pressure on the ICC Board ahead of its decision.
What’s next for USA Cricket
The ICC’s Normalisation Committee will oversee the process and advise on steps needed to lift the suspension.
Despite the uncertainty at the board level, the ICC’s assurance that players and national teams remain supported provides a crucial buffer — especially with the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup and 2028 LA Olympics on the horizon.
The ICC reaffirmed its commitment to the long-term growth of cricket in the United States, stating it will continue to ‘support the sporting ecosystem and its constituents, namely the athletes’ and ensure the country can play ‘a more significant role on the global stage’.
