The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) upcoming Annual Conference will decide the fate of USA Cricket as the cricket body is likely to be put “on notice”.
In a note circulated to its members, the global body has highlighted that USA Cricket is “currently non-compliant with the ICC Membership Criteria” and if they fail to prove compliance, the sanction will push them closer to suspension of membership.
In the five-page document accessed by CricketNext, the ICC has stated that “USAC are yet to complete the governance reform processes recommended by the USA Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) which is required in order for them to achieve National Governing Body certification (a requirement for all newly recognised sports added to the LA 2028 Games program) in compliance with USOPC NGB Membership Criteria.”
The global body further pointed out the lack of “fit-for-purpose administrative structure” and highlighted that the USAC is operating without a CEO.
Senior officials of USA Cricket have already sent a detailed response and are likely to counter the points when they come up for discussion during the conference in Sri Lanka.
“It’s a conspiracy by ICC management to take us down and give operational control to the staff part of the T20 World Cup USA Inc, who ran the show during the World Cup,” says a USA Cricket official.
USAC are without a CEO since parting ways with Dr Noor Murad but it is learnt that the cricket body are “almost ready” to announce the new name.
The issue of USOPC application has also been addressed in USAC’s response to the ICC and it has been conveyed that it is not that straightforward.
“We have told the ICC that USOPC application is a two-year process but the management is projecting that we are not compliant,” adds the source.
Excerpts from the ICC note:
“The USOPC has written to the USAC expressing serious concerns about the ongoing governance of USAC. Whilst this does not put USAC in breach of ICC Membership Criteria, it reflects broader concerns regarding USAC’s governance. However, USOPC have stated if USAC do not achieve NGB certification, they will be required to commence a process to recognise an alternate NGB for cricket, which could put USAC in breach of ICC Membership Criteria to be “recognized by the ICC (at its absolute discretion) as the primary governing body responsible for the administration, management and development of cricket (men’s and women’s) in its country”.
“USAC still does not have a fit-for purpose administrative structure. USAC do not currently have a CEO, having terminated the employment of their most recent one after only a few months in the role. A recruitment process for a replacement CEO has commenced. In April, the two remaining USAC Development staff (the Development Manager and Women’s Manager) resigned. A process to replace these staff has not yet commenced. Currently, replacement staff are temporary and part-time contractors”
The note also mentions the non-compliance of Cricket Chile but it’s USA Cricket which is going to attract a lot of attention during the four days in Sri Lanka. The ICC management, it seems, has already made up its mind but the senior office bearers of USA Cricket are working overtime rallying support from other members.
It is learnt that plenty of USA Cricket officials explained their situation to influential ICC members during the USA leg of the T20 World Cup. The co-hosts were mere spectators during the multi-nation event as all the work was tended to by ICC employees. The matter, and overshooting of budgets during the World Cup, is likely to be discussed at length.
Tentative schedule in Sri Lanka:
July 19: Associate Members meeting
July 20: Meeting of the Chief Executives Committee (CEC)
July 21: Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee meeting + informal Board meeting
July 22: ICC and IBC Board meetings + Annual General Meeting
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