The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sports global governing body, suspended the membership status of the USA Cricket with immediate effect on Tuesday. This development comes as a result of “repeated and continued breaches of its obligations by USA Cricket as a ICC Member under the ICC’s Constitution,” as per ICC.
In a statement released by ICC on Tuesday, they confirmed the decision taken and the reason behind it in detail, calling the suspension a “necessary step to protect the long-term interests of the game.”
“The International Cricket Council (ICC), after a thorough review of affairs and extensive engagement with key stakeholders over the past year, today confirmed the suspension of ICC membership status of USA Cricket, with immediate effect,” the statement reads.
“The decision, taken by the ICC Board during its meeting earlier, was based on USA Cricket’s repeated and continued breaches of its obligations as a ICC Member under the ICC’s Constitution. These include, but are not limited to, the failure to implement a functional governance structure, lack of progress toward achieving National Governing Body status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and significant actions that have caused reputational damage to cricket in the United States and around the world,” it adds.
The suspension comes as a major roadblock for USA Cricket’s World Cup and Olympic aspirations. Cricket is set to be a part of the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. USA, by virtue of being the host, were supposed to feature in the event. USA also played at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup that happened on their soil.
However, the ICC has confirmed that the national team of USA will retain the right to participate in ICC events. “The ICC Board has decided that USA’s national teams will retain their right to participate in ICC events, including preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28),” says the release.
From now on, the management and administration of USA national teams will temporarily be overseen by the ICC and/or its designated representatives.
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As per the global governing board, “The ICC Normalisation Committee, supported by the ICC management, will outline the steps required for the suspension on USA Cricket to lifted and its membership rights restored. These will include demonstrable and specific changes to USA Cricket’s governance structure, operations and overall status in the Cricket ecosystem. The normalization committee will also monitor USA Cricket’s progress and provide consultatory support.”
Why was USA Cricket suspended?
ICC has also provided the timeline and the context of how things panned out.
“USA Cricket was placed ‘on notice’ at the 2024 ICC Annual General Meeting for non-compliance with ICC Membership Criteria and given 12 months to remedy that non-compliance.”
“On account of continued non-compliance with the ICC Membership Criteria, USA Cricket was to be considered for suspension at the 2025 AGM. It was only because of a representation made to the ICC normalization committee by USA Cricket and commitments made thereafter to the ICC Board in July, that the ICC Membership voted to keep them ‘on notice’.”
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“When USAC was notified of the AGM’s decision, it was specifically advised in writing that, along with fulfilling the commitments it made to the Board and taking immediate steps in that respect, it must (i) not do/omit to do anything that might jeopardise cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics, and (ii) 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 statement concludes.
The postWhy has ICC suspended USA Cricket’s membership? Explained appeared first on Indian Express
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