In a major development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended the USA Cricket (USAC) board, effective immediately, as a result of ongoing governance and administrative problems. Even after notices and a number of warning signals, USAC failed to implement the necessary reforms, which led to the ICC assuming control of the USA national teams, on an interim basis.
The suspension will not prevent the USA men’s or women’s teams from taking part in upcoming ICC events, including the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where cricket will return.
In July 2025, the ICC had set a three-month ultimatum for the USAC board to carry out fair elections and sort out its leadership structure. These reforms were to be carried out as part of a six-step roadmap developed by the ICC’s Normalisation Committee, chaired by Jay Shah, which included bringing in independent directors, dissolving the board, and amending USAC’s constitution to meet Olympic eligibility requirements.
Although USAC initially presented its plans, they were not able to generate any meaningful advancement. The ICC stated that constitutional violations that have occurred repeatedly, damage to the integrity of the sport, and a lack of action to get USAC recognized as a National Governing Body by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee were the specific reasons for the suspension.
In its statement, the ICC referred to this step as “an unfortunate but appropriate action.” It reiterated its commitment to supporting the growth of cricket in the US. A new governance structure will now be implemented under ICC guidance that will focus specifically on athletes’ welfare and on reform at a grass-roots level.
As cricket seeks to grow its presence in the American sports market, this suspension represents a key juncture for how the game should be governed and developed in the lead-up to the LA28 Olympic Games.
