ICC Warns USA Cricket of Suspension for Non-Compliance

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a stern warning to USA Cricket (USAC), threatening to place it "On Notice" for non-compliance with its Associate membership status. This comes just a month after the conclusion of the historic T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies.

The ICC has identified two areas of non-compliance:

1. Governance Structure: USAC has not met the governance norms set by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), which is necessary for it to earn National Governing Body (NGB) status. This status is mandatory for sports included in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

2. Administrative Structure: USAC lacks a "fit-for-purpose administrative structure," including a vacant CEO position and a lack of independent directors on its Board.

The ICC has noted that the USOPC has expressed serious concerns about USAC's governance model. If USAC fails to achieve NGB certification, the USOPC may recognize an alternate NGB for cricket, which could put USAC in breach of ICC membership criteria.

This is the second time this year that the ICC has raised concerns about USAC's compliance. In March, the ICC warned USAC about its lack of USOPC compliance and the absence of a CEO. The ICC Board even considered suspending USAC's membership but decided to give it a "last chance" to remedy the issues.

As a punitive measure, the ICC has stopped the annual funding USAC receives until it fulfills all membership criteria. The ICC has also recommended stronger sanctions, including placing USAC "On Notice."

In response, USAC has appointed an independent director and Treasurer, Pintoo Shah. However, the ICC maintains that USAC has not fully remedied the non-compliance issues and remains at risk of being placed "On Notice."

Tags: #USAC, #ICC, #AssociateMembership, #Governance, #AdministrativeStructure