USA Cricket’s membership suspended
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended USA Cricket’s membership with immediate effect, citing “repeated and continued breaches” of its obligations as an ICC Member under the ICC Constitution.
The suspension follows over a year of monitoring, engagement with stakeholders and a formal notice issued to USA Cricket in 2024. The ICC said it had no choice but to act after concluding that the American governing body had failed to address fundamental governance and compliance concerns.
How events led to suspension?
- July 2024: USA Cricket was officially placed “on notice” at the ICC Annual General Meeting for failing to meet membership criteria. It was given a 12 month period to fix issues.
- 2024–2025: The ICC engaged closely with the board and stakeholders, urging reforms. Disputes over governance and commercial contracts signaled deeper instability.
- Mid 2025: At the ICC’s AGM, members reviewed the situation but allowed USA Cricket more time. However, continued non compliance and mounting complaints kept pressure on the body.
- September 2025: The ICC Board met and unanimously voted to suspend USA Cricket’s membership, saying the breaches had persisted and could not be ignored.
Why the ICC acted?
The ICC pointed to repeated breaches of constitutional obligations. Although the public statement did not specify every violation, several major issues have been reported:
- Governance problems: USA Cricket failed to meet required standards of transparency, accountability and structural compliance.
- Commercial disputes: The body’s termination of its agreement with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the backers of Major League Cricket, triggered financial uncertainty and legal challenges.
- Stakeholder complaints: Multiple domestic and international partners raised concerns about USA Cricket’s management and direction, prompting the ICC to intervene.
The ICC described suspension as a protective step to safeguard cricket’s future in the United States.
What suspension actually means?
Suspension affects the governing body but not the players.
- National teams: The USA men’s and women’s teams remain eligible to play in ICC events, including the T20 World Cup and preparations for cricket’s reintroduction at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Oversight: The ICC may impose direct oversight or appoint a normalization committee to run American cricket until compliant structures are restored.
- Funding and sponsorships: The suspension complicates contracts, financial support and partner confidence, especially with ongoing legal battles involving ACE.
Reactions
- ICC: Emphasized that the suspension protects the long term interests of the sport in the U.S. after more than a year of failed reform efforts.
- Media and analysts: Described the decision as the ICC “running out of patience” and a necessary reset in a critical growth market.
- USA Cricket and ACE: USA Cricket had yet to issue a detailed public response at the time of the announcement. ACE, meanwhile, has pursued legal action against the governing body for terminating their commercial deal.
Why the United States matters?
The U.S. is central to cricket’s global ambitions. It has a large expatriate fan base, growing grassroots interest and major potential in media and sponsorship. Parts of past ICC events have already been staged in U.S. venues and cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has further elevated its strategic importance. Instability in governance threatens to slow this momentum and weaken confidence among investors and fans.
Possible scenarios
- Rapid reforms and reinstatement: If USA Cricket accepts oversight and implements reforms, membership could be restored relatively quickly.
- Normalization period: The ICC may oversee American cricket directly for an extended period, ensuring continuity of competition while structural fixes are made.
- Commercial and legal fallout: Disputes with ACE and other partners could drag on, complicating the recovery process.
- Longer term instability: If governance issues remain unresolved, cricket’s growth in the U.S. could be severely hampered just as the sport eyes Olympic exposure.
What to watch next?
- Whether the ICC appoints a normalization committee or another oversight mechanism.
- USA Cricket’s official response and willingness to cooperate on reforms.
- Developments in legal disputes with ACE and how they affect domestic competitions and investment.
- Assurance of continuity for players and teams as they prepare for upcoming ICC events.
Final Thoughts
The ICC’s suspension of USA Cricket is a watershed moment. It reflects repeated failures by the board to meet governance and compliance standards after more than a year of warnings. While the sanction is serious, the ICC has made clear that it intends to protect players and maintain U.S. participation in global events.
What happens next depends on how quickly and effectively American cricket leadership, commercial partners and the ICC can find a path to restore stability. For a sport betting on the U.S. as its next frontier, the stakes could not be higher.
Source: @ICC
