ICC suspends USA Cricket: Here’s why
**ICC Suspends USA Cricket Amid Governance Reforms, But T20 World Cup Participation Unaffected**
*By Parth Dhall | Sep 23, 2025, 10:47 PM*
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially suspended USA Cricket (USAC) as part of efforts to overhaul the leadership and governance structure of cricket in the United States. The decision was made during a virtual meeting of the ICC Board on Tuesday.
### Suspension and Its Impact
While the suspension signals serious concerns over governance, it will not affect the USA’s participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka in February 2024.
### Governance Reforms and ICC Ultimatum
This suspension follows a three-month ultimatum issued by the ICC, demanding USAC conduct “free and fair elections” and implement “comprehensive” governance reforms. The cricket body had kept USAC “on notice” since July of the previous year, monitoring progress closely. The ICC Board also reserved the right to take further action depending on how these reforms proceed.
### Olympic Participation Remains Unaffected
According to ESPNcricinfo, the ongoing suspension does not impact cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The ICC recently mapped out a “roadmap” to help USAC gain National Governing Body (NGB) status from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
This six-step plan, developed by the ICC’s Normalisation Committee, includes a key requirement for USAC to appoint three new independent directors to its Board as part of the revamp process.
### Future Leadership and Governance
After appointing the new independent directors, the existing USAC Board is expected to resign and call for fresh elections. Following this, USAC will apply for the crucial NGB status.
A comprehensive review and reform of the USA Cricket Constitution is also underway, in consultation with the Independent Directors and other ICC stakeholders. However, details on who will manage cricket operations in the US during the suspension remain unclear.
### Contract Dispute With American Cricket Enterprise
In a related development, USAC recently terminated its contract with American Cricket Enterprise (ACE), the commercial partner and owner of Major League Cricket (MLC) and Minor League Cricket (MiLC).
This decision sparked criticism from players who feel caught in the middle of the ongoing dispute. Last week, ACE chose to legally challenge the contract termination, adding further uncertainty for those involved in the leagues.
### 2024: A Historic Year for USA Cricket
Despite the challenges, the USA cricket team looks ahead with optimism. They will compete in the 2026 T20 World Cup regardless of current governance issues.
The year 2024 brought several landmark moments for USA Cricket. In May, the team secured their first-ever bilateral T20I series win against a Full Member side by beating Bangladesh 2-1 in Houston.
Additionally, the USA co-hosted the T20 World Cup alongside the West Indies. In a historic highlight, they defeated Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. Although subsequent defeats curtailed their campaign, these achievements mark significant progress for American cricket on the global stage.
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*Stay tuned for more updates on USA Cricket and their journey toward reform and international success.*
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