USA Cricket Membership Suspended by ICC Over Governance Issues

On 23 September, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed it has suspended USA Cricket’s membership, citing repeated governance failures and breaches of its obligations as a member board. The move follows more than a year of warnings and comes at a delicate moment, with cricket pushing hard for its place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The ICC Board reached the decision after what it described as “extensive engagement with stakeholders” and “a thorough review of affairs.” At the heart of the matter lies USA Cricket’s inability to build a stable governance structure, delays in achieving National Governing Body recognition with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and actions that have, in the ICC’s words, caused “reputational damage” both at home and internationally.

That one moment flipped everything. In July, USA Cricket was granted a temporary reprieve when its leadership assured the ICC Board of reforms, promising to fix long-standing structural issues. Yet little progress was seen. By September, the governing body decided enough was enough.

Olympic Ambitions Still Intact

Despite the suspension, the ICC was careful to protect players and Olympic ambitions. In its statement, the council stressed that USA’s men’s and women’s national teams will continue to compete in ICC events and remain part of the build-up to the LA28 Games. To safeguard the athletes, the ICC itself or its appointed representatives will temporarily manage the administration of the teams.

“Ensuring our players don’t lose momentum is the priority,” an ICC spokesperson explained. “We want cricket’s Olympic dream to stay on course, and the USA is central to that vision.”

For cricketers in the US, it means training camps, tours, and development programs will go on as planned. The ICC also confirmed that a normalisation committee will oversee USA Cricket, monitoring reforms and setting out the steps required for its membership to be restored.

Years of Warnings

This suspension did not arrive out of the blue. At the 2024 ICC Annual General Meeting, USA Cricket was formally “put on notice” for failing to meet membership criteria. The board was given twelve months to put its house in order. When it failed to do so, suspension was on the agenda at the 2025 AGM. Only last-minute promises of reform delayed the axe.

But with continued non-compliance, patience finally wore thin. The ICC reminded USA Cricket that it had been told, in no uncertain terms, not to take any action that could jeopardise Olympic inclusion or damage the game’s global reputation. According to officials, both warnings were ignored.

Honestly, you could feel the frustration building. Cricket’s global governing body has been burned before by unstable member boards, and with the Olympic spotlight looming, the ICC wasn’t ready to gamble.

What this Means for American Cricket

For players, the immediate impact is minimal. They can still pull on the USA jersey in ICC tournaments, from T20 World Cups to Olympic qualifiers. For administrators, though, the message is stark: fix the mess, or remain frozen out.

The suspension highlights a wider challenge. Cricket in the United States has long been described as a sleeping giant. They have huge potential, booming expat communities, but constant turmoil at the top. Multiple boards have collapsed or been replaced over the decades. This latest suspension, while damaging, could finally force meaningful reform.

Crowds in Dallas and Florida saw record turnouts during the recent T20 World Cup, proving there is appetite for the sport. But whether that enthusiasm translates into lasting structures depends on what happens next.

What Happens Now?

The ICC normalisation committee will soon publish a roadmap. This will likely include sweeping governance changes, audited transparency in operations, and a push to secure USOPC recognition. Only once those boxes are ticked will USA Cricket’s membership be reinstated.

For now, cricket’s Olympic dream remains safe, and players can breathe easy. But the boardrooms in the US will be under the microscope like never before.

To be fair, this could be the turning point. If reforms finally take root, the suspension might be remembered as the jolt USA Cricket needed. If not, the sport risks squandering its best chance yet to become a mainstream force in America.