ICC suspends USA Cricket over governance failures and USOPC issues, but allows players to compete.
On September 23, 2025, USA Cricket (USAC) was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which dealt a serious setback to cricket's expansion in America. Following repeated violations of membership and non-compliance with governance requirements, the suspension was imposed.
This move is significant as it comes just three years before cricket returns to the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028. The ICC said the decision was “based on USA Cricket's repeated and continued breaches of its obligations as an ICC Member under the ICC's Constitution.”
The ICC listed three major failures by USAC.
In July 2024, the ICC had already warned USAC and placed it “on notice” for 12 months. However, the organization failed to fix the issues. At the 2025 ICC Annual General Meeting, suspension became unavoidable.
ICC membership rules require good governance, compliance with the ICC constitution, and, in the US case, progress toward USOPC recognition. The USAC constitution itself requires it to achieve and maintain recognition by the USOPC.
This means holding fair elections, ensuring athlete representation, and following financial and managerial standards. Despite writing these rules into its own constitution, USAC repeatedly failed to follow them.
The suspension affects governance, not the players. USA’s men’s and women’s national teams will still play in ICC tournaments. They will also continue preparations for the LA 2028 Olympics.
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The ICC clarified that it will directly oversee the national teams’ management and high-performance programs. This ensures that athletes remain unaffected and cricket in the US continues to develop despite the governance crisis.
There is no set timeline for lifting the suspension. The ICC has created a normalization mechanism to monitor reforms. For reinstatement, USA Cricket must show real progress in governance, hold free and fair elections, and meet USOPC recognition standards.
The ICC Board had earlier given USAC three months to carry out reforms. Now, the normalization committee will guide the process until structural changes are complete.
The suspension calls into question cricket's long-term legitimacy in the US. This is a crucial time because LA 2028 is approaching. The ICC aims to guarantee that cricket has a powerful and well-known governing body when it competes in the Olympics.
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According to experts, the suspension might ultimately benefit US cricket. The ICC is creating the foundation for stability in the future by enforcing reforms now. Cricket may finally receive the recognition it needs to flourish in the American sports landscape if USAC complies.
