Cricket

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."

The upcoming ICC Annual Conference in Colombo, commencing on Friday, holds immense significance for the cricketing world. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah's potential takeover as ICC Chairman from New Zealander Greg Barclay will be a key topic of discussion.One of the major concerns on the agenda is the substantial financial losses incurred by the ICC during the T20 World Cup games held in the United States. Reports indicate losses exceeding USD 20 million. While the AGM's nine-point agenda does not explicitly address financial details, it will be discussed as a "post-event report."The appointment of ICC's new external auditor, ICC memberships, reports from associate members' meetings, and the presentation of ICC development awards are also on the agenda.A crucial issue not included in the official agenda but likely to be raised under "Any Other Business" is India's decision to decline participation in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.According to an ICC source, the timing of Jay Shah's succession as ICC Chairman is a primary concern. The source stated, "It is not about how but when, as he still has one year left as BCCI secretary before his cooling-off period in Indian board starts in 2025 as per constitution."Speculation suggests that the ICC's chairmanship term could be revised from three terms of two years each to two terms of three years, maintaining the cumulative term at six years. This would allow Shah to complete his six years as BCCI secretary and assume the ICC chairmanship in 2025 for three years during his cooling-off period in the BCCI. Subsequently, he could return in 2028 to take over as the board president.

Indian Women's Cricketers Rise in ICC T20 RankingsIndian women's cricket team opener Shafali Verma and captain Harmanpreet Kaur have made significant strides in the latest ICC T20 rankings, released on Tuesday. Verma has climbed two positions to share the 15th rank with New Zealand's Amelia Kerr and England's Danni Wyatt, while Kaur has gained three places to occupy the 12th spot.Verma's impressive performances in the recently concluded series against South Africa have propelled her up the rankings. The young opener has been in scintillating form, scoring consistently and playing some eye-catching shots. Her ability to clear the boundary with ease has made her a formidable force in the Indian batting lineup.Kaur, who led India to a 2-1 series victory over South Africa, has also been rewarded for her consistent performances. The experienced all-rounder has been a key figure in the Indian team for many years, and her leadership and batting skills have been instrumental in their success.Smriti Mandhana, known for her aggressive batting style, remains the highest-ranked Indian batter, holding steady at the fifth position. Mandhana has been in excellent form in recent months, and her ability to score runs at a brisk pace has made her one of the most feared batters in the world.Among the bowlers, the experienced Deepti Sharma maintained her position at the third spot. Sharma has been a consistent performer for India, and her ability to bowl both spin and seam makes her a valuable asset to the team.Radha Yadav made significant progress, moving up eight places to reach the 15th rank. Yadav has been in impressive form in recent matches, and her ability to take wickets at crucial junctures has been a major factor in India's success.Pooja Vastrakar ascended six positions to secure the 23rd spot. Vastrakar has been a reliable all-rounder for India, and her ability to contribute with both bat and ball has made her a valuable member of the team.Shreyanka Patil also improved her standing, climbing nine places to occupy the 60th position. Patil has been a promising young bowler for India, and her recent performances have shown that she has the potential to become a top-class spinner.In other news, England spinner Sarah Glenn achieved a new career-high rating of 768 points. Glenn has taken eight wickets in the first four matches of England's ongoing T20I series at home against New Zealand. This achievement has allowed her to retain her position as the world's No.2 ranked T20I bowler.The only player ahead of Glenn in the ratings is her teammate and fellow spinner, Sophie Ecclestone, who also has eight scalps from the first four matches of the five-game series.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has adopted an assertive stance, demanding that the Champions Trophy 2025 be held entirely within Pakistan. This stance comes in response to reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may request a hybrid model, with India playing their matches in a neutral country.The PCB's unwavering position stems from the strained political relations and security concerns between India and Pakistan. India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, and the BCCI's reluctance to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy has raised concerns.The PCB has threatened to withdraw from the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, if India refuses to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. This move highlights the PCB's determination to host the tournament on its own soil.The ICC finds itself in a difficult position, balancing the interests of both cricketing powerhouses. The upcoming ICC Annual Conference in Colombo will be a crucial juncture, where the PCB is expected to vehemently oppose any hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025.The PCB's stance is supported by the fact that Pakistan successfully hosted the 2022 Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore, demonstrating its ability to provide a secure environment for international cricket.The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan have been marred by political and security issues since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The last time India toured Pakistan was in 2008 for the Asia Cup. The countries have since met only in ICC events or Asia Cup tournaments held in neutral venues.The PCB's determination to host the Champions Trophy 2025 entirely in Pakistan is a testament to its commitment to promoting cricket in the country and showcasing its capabilities as a host nation. The ICC will have to carefully consider the PCB's demands while ensuring the integrity of the tournament and the safety of all participants.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to conduct an audit of the recently concluded T20 World Cup at its upcoming board meeting in Colombo. Concerns have been raised by board members regarding the organization of the tournament in the United States and West Indies.Amidst these concerns, ICC's head of events, Chris Tetley, has resigned. Sources indicate that member boards have expressed concerns over excessive expenses incurred during the tournament's USA leg. Questions have also been raised about the selection of New York as the central venue for marquee matches, given the construction of a temporary stadium."The audit is ongoing. There are assumptions that the ICC may have incurred losses in ticketing during the USA leg. The tournament appeared mismanaged, and the performance of the New York stadium fell short of expectations," an ICC source stated.The board will examine whether the organizing committee exceeded its allocated budget. While acknowledging the challenges of introducing cricket to the US market, the source emphasized the need to scrutinize expenses.Regarding Tetley's resignation, sources suggest that he had been discussing the matter with ICC officials for a year. With a series of ICC events, including the ODI World Cup last year, Tetley and another executive were requested to remain on board to ensure a smooth transition. They may be asked to continue until the Women's T20 World Cup in October or the Champions Trophy in February.

ICC Official Resigns Amid Scrutiny of T20 World Cup PitchesA senior official of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has resigned following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, which was marred by concerns over the quality of pitches used at the Nassau County stadium in New York.The resignation comes just a week before the ICC's annual conference in Colombo, where members were expected to raise the issue. The exact reason for the official's departure remains unclear, but it is believed to be related to the scrutiny of the matches hosted in the US.The pop-up stadium in New York, which was demolished after the group stage, drew criticism for its uneven and difficult-to-bat-on drop-in pitches. The highest total scored at the venue was a mere 137 for 7, while the highest successful chase was 111 for 3.The Nassau County International stadium hosted eight matches in total, including the high-profile India vs Pakistan clash. After the match, the ICC issued a statement acknowledging the poor quality of the pitches and promising to improve the surfaces for the remaining games.The T20 World Cup, which was held from June 1 to 29, was jointly hosted by the US and the West Indies. The tournament was won by Australia, who defeated New Zealand in the final.

Suryakumar Yadav maintains his second position in the ICC Men's T20I batting rankings, while Ruturaj Gaikwad makes significant progress to climb to seventh place. The rankings reflect the performances of players in the ongoing Zimbabwe tour, where India's backup players have showcased their talent.Gaikwad's impressive 77 not out in the second T20I against Zimbabwe has propelled him up 13 places in the rankings. Other Indian batters who have made gains include Rinku Singh (up four places to 39th) and Abhishek Sharma (debuts at 75th).In the bowlers' rankings, Axar Patel remains the lone Indian in the top 10 at ninth position, despite dropping two places. Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah have also slipped down the rankings.However, there have been some notable movements in the top 10 of the bowling rankings, with Adam Zampa, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Maheesh Theekshana gaining positions. India's Ravi Bishnoi has jumped eight places to 14th after taking six wickets in the first two games against Zimbabwe.In the T20I all-rounders' rankings, Hardik Pandya has dropped a place to second, while Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka has moved to pole position. India's Washington Sundar has entered the top 50, while Axar Patel is placed 12th.The Zimbabwe tour has provided an opportunity for India's backup players to stake their claim for a regular place in the side, especially with the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. The performances of Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, and Abhishek Sharma have been particularly encouraging.

The Indian cricket team's triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024 marked a historic moment for the nation, ending an 11-year drought for an ICC title. The victory against South Africa in the final brought immense joy to the Indian fans and prompted the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to announce a generous reward for the victorious contingent.The BCCI allocated a whopping INR 125 crore to the 42-member team and support staff who participated in the tournament held in the United States of America and West Indies. This reward surpassed the previous monetary incentives given to the team for their ICC title victories under MS Dhoni's leadership.In 2013, when India won the Champions Trophy, the BCCI awarded each player INR 1 crore and the support staff INR 30 lakh. For the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, the players initially received INR 1 crore each, which was later revised to INR 2 crore. The support staff earned INR 50 lakh, while selectors received INR 25 lakh each.After India's victory in the 2007 ICC World T20, the entire team was rewarded with a cumulative sum of INR 12 crore.The distribution of the T20 World Cup 2024 prize money is as follows:* Each of the 15 squad members will receive INR 5 crore, including those who did not play a single game.* The four reserve players will each get INR 2.5 crore.* Head coach Rahul Dravid will receive INR 5 crore, while his coaching staff will earn INR 1 crore each.* The backroom staff, including physios and throwdown specialists, will receive INR 2 crore each.* Selectors will be awarded INR 1 crore each.The BCCI's generous reward reflects the immense pride and appreciation for the team's remarkable achievement. It also serves as a testament to the board's commitment to recognizing and rewarding the hard work and dedication of the players and support staff.

Hardik Pandya's stellar performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup has propelled him to the pinnacle of the ICC Men's T20I All-Rounder Rankings. The Indian star has ascended two places to join Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga at the top of the standings, becoming the first Indian male cricketer to achieve this prestigious distinction.Pandya's rise to the summit is a testament to his exceptional contributions throughout the tournament. With both bat and ball, he played a pivotal role in India's triumph. In the batting department, he amassed 144 runs at a blistering strike rate of over 150, while with the ball, he claimed 11 wickets.His defining moment came in the final against South Africa. With the Proteas needing 16 runs to win in the final over, Pandya stepped up to the challenge and successfully defended the score, securing India's victory. His crucial wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller swung the momentum in India's favor.Pandya's ascent to the top of the rankings is a reflection of his all-round abilities. He is a dynamic batsman who can accelerate the scoring rate at will, and a skillful bowler who can trouble batters with his pace and variations. His versatility makes him an invaluable asset to any team.The T20I All-Rounder Rankings have also witnessed other notable movements. Marcus Stoinis, Sikandar Raza, Shakib Al Hasan, and Liam Livingstone have all moved up one position, while Mohammad Nabi has dropped four places to fall out of the top five.Pandya's achievement is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has consistently performed at the highest level and has now established himself as one of the most formidable all-rounders in the world. His rise to the top is an inspiration to young cricketers everywhere.