ICC Grants Extension to USA Cricket for Governance Issues

SINGAPORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has granted USA Cricket (USAC) a three-month extension to resolve ongoing governance concerns. This decision provides temporary respite as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games approach, according to reports from international media on Saturday.

The decision took place during the ICC Board’s yearly conference in Singapore on Saturday.

This extension is crucial for USAC, which has faced scrutiny from both the ICC and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for failing to meet necessary administrative and governance criteria.

USAC was officially notified during the ICC’s annual conference in July 2024 and has been under pressure to implement changes since then.

Sources familiar with the situation reveal that the ICC’s normalisation committee, which recently visited the US, voiced concerns regarding the progress achieved.

Typically, continued non-compliance could result in suspension. However, considering the geopolitical and sporting significance of the United States hosting the LA28 Olympics, where cricket will be featured, the ICC has chosen to be lenient.

This three-month extension is seen as a final opportunity for USAC to improve its structure. Despite the extension, uncertainty remains regarding team selection for the LA28 Games.

While both the US men’s and women’s teams are anticipated to qualify automatically as hosts, the selection process remains unclear.

The USOPC’s persistent concerns might prevent USAC from having a formal role in the selection if governance standards are not promptly addressed.

To handle broader qualification matters, the ICC has also chosen to implement a hybrid qualification system for the Olympics.

Under this model, some teams will qualify through their ICC T20 rankings, while others will secure their places through regional or global qualifying events.

India, currently ranked first in T20Is, is expected to secure automatic qualification based on rankings, irrespective of the cut-off date.

Additionally, the ICC Board has established a working group to suggest structural reforms across all cricket formats: Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

More information on this initiative is expected on Sunday, the final day of the ICC’s Singapore meeting.