Why ICC had no choice but to suspend USA Cricket

Jatin

USA Cricket has been suspended [Source: @IPL2025Auction/x.com]USA Cricket has been suspended [Source: @IPL2025Auction/x.com]

Sometimes in sport, tough calls are less about punishment and more about survival. That is exactly what the International Cricket Council (ICC) did when it suspended USA Cricket (USAC) on Tuesday.

After months of warnings, missed deadlines and governance chaos, the ICC finally pulled the plug. On the surface, it looks like a harsh move but peel back the layers and you will see why it was unavoidable and maybe even necessary for the long-term health of the game in America.

Governance mess

For years, USAC has struggled to get its house in order. The ICC’s demands weren’t unreasonable: a functioning governance structure, free and fair elections and recognition as a National Governing Body (NGB) by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Instead, USA Cricket stumbled repeatedly, failing to bring in independent directors, delaying reforms and running a board that lacked transparency. These breaches struck at the very foundation of credibility.

The Olympics factor

The elephant in the room is Los Angeles 2028. Cricket’s Olympic comeback is historic, and the USA as hosts will be one of the showpiece teams. The ICC knew it couldn’t risk a messy governing body spoiling the narrative.

With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, cricket in America couldn’t afford administrative paralysis. Athletes needed clarity, not chaos and suspending USAC while keeping national teams unaffected was the only way to balance both.

Reputation at stake

Every global sport relies on reputation, and cricket is no different. The ICC had made it clear to USAC: don’t do anything that brings the game into disrepute. Yet repeated governance failures were already doing damage.

At a time when cricket is trying to break into new markets, especially the US, ICC couldn’t allow internal politics to overshadow the bigger picture. Protecting the sport’s image mattered more than protecting fragile egos.

A tough but necessary step

It is easy to label the suspension as extreme but sometimes you need to hit the reset button. The ICC’s decision carefully ring-fenced athletes, allowing USA teams to continue competing in the T20 World Cup 2026 and prepare for the Olympics.

This isn’t a punishment for players, it’s a wake-up call for administrators. In fact, it might just be the only way to bring accountability to a board that had been running on promises instead of progress.

The future

The ball is now back in USAC’s court. If it wants reinstatement, it must embrace sweeping reforms. Elections, fresh leadership, constitutional changes and NGB recognition are non-negotiables.

The Normalisation Committee, led by Jay Shah, has laid out a roadmap and it is up to USAC to walk the talk this time. If they succeed, cricket in the USA could finally shed its baggage and march toward the global stage it deserves.

Conclusion

The suspension of USA Cricket is about survival. The ICC’s hand was forced and in truth, it had no other choice. In the long run, this bitter pill might just be the medicine cricket in America needs.

Clean governance, stronger leadership and Olympic exposure could turn today’s setback into tomorrow’s revival story. The question is: will USAC finally learn its lesson?