By formally suspending USA Cricket (USAC), the International Cricket Council (ICC) has intervened in the sport’s governance in one of its developing areas. The decision, which was made Tuesday during a virtual meeting of the ICC Board, comes after months of warnings and marks a change in how the game is run in the US.
Crucially, the USA’s participation in the forthcoming T20 World Cup in February 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will jointly host, will not be impacted by the suspension. The team will remain in competition while being directly supervised by the ICC.
Although the precise cause of the suspension has not been disclosed, USAC has been under notice since July 2024.
The board was given a three-month deadline by the ICC to hold free and fair elections and put substantial governance reforms into place. The suspension is a reflection of the international body’s decision to pursue accountability after warning that noncompliance would result in severe consequences.
The ICC’s larger plan for United States of America, which aims to assist the board in obtaining National Governing Body (NGB) accreditation from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), is another factor behind the action. Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the USA will serve as hosts, depends on its recognition. Both men’s and women’s competitions are anticipated to be played.
Jay Shah, the chair of the ICC’s Normalisation Committee, met with USAC CEO Jonathan Atkeison and chairman Venu Pisike earlier this year. To restructure USAC’s governance, the committee created a six-step plan. This involved calling for new elections, the resignation of the current board, and the appointment of three new independent directors. In addition, ICC stakeholders were consulted in order to compel a comprehensive review of the USA Cricket Constitution.
The decision comes at a time when relations between United States of America and its previous business partner, American Cricket Enterprise (ACE), which manages Major League and Minor League Cricket, are already tense. Legal issues have arisen as a result of USAC’s recent termination of its contract with ACE.
Concern over their uncertain futures has also been voiced by players. Corey Anderson, a former all-rounder for New Zealand who currently plays for the United States of America and is the operational director of the United States of America Cricketers Association, acknowledged that players are uncertain due to the continuous conflicts and instability.
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