The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended USA Cricket’s membership to safeguard the sport and protect athletes’ interests, including cricket’s Olympic prospects. This decision was announced in an official statement by ICC on September 23.
“The 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 said.
“The suspension is an unfortunate but necessary step to protect the long-term interests of the game,” it added.
What is the reason for suspension?
The ICC decided to suspend USA Cricket due to repeated violations of its rules. These included failing to set up a proper governance structure and not making progress toward National Governing Body status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
“The decision, taken by the ICC, was based on USA Cricket’s repeated and continued breaches of its obligations as an ICC Member under the ICC’s Constitution,” the statement mentioned.
Some actions by USA Cricket also harmed the reputation of cricket in the US and globally. “Significant actions that have caused reputational damage to cricket in the United States and around the world.”
The ICC claims to have first warned USA Cricket in 2024 for not meeting membership requirements and gave them 12 months to fix the issues. Even after promises in July 2025, the problems continued, forcing the ICC to act. The organisation had previously warned USA Cricket not to take steps that could hurt cricket’s Olympic prospects or damage its reputation.
USA national teams can still participate in ICC events
Despite the suspension, USA national teams will still be allowed to take part in ICC events, including preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The ICC will temporarily manage the administration of USA teams to support players and maintain momentum toward Olympic inclusion.
The ICC’s Normalisation Committee will guide USA Cricket on what changes are needed to restore its membership. These changes include improvements in governance, operations and overall compliance with ICC standards. The committee will monitor progress and offer advice to help USA Cricket meet the requirements, according to the ICC.