USA Cricket Set To Be Put ‘On Notice’, While Spotlight Shines On T20 World Cup Finances

USA Cricket is set to be put ‘on notice’ amid ongoing turmoil, a sanction that would move the governing body closer to a suspension of its membership.

The International Cricket Council has deemed USA Cricket non-compliant of its Associate Membership criteria. The issue will be part of discussions during the ICC’s Annual General Meeting starting on July 19 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

As I reported in April, USA Cricket avoided calls for suspension during an ICC board meeting in March, but were required to “remedy all areas of non-compliance” by the AGM. Its funding has been ‘controlled’ by the ICC.

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According to an ICC document, sent to administrators ahead of the AGM, USA Cricket has yet to complete “governance reform processes recommended by the USA Olympic and Paralympic Committee”.

“The USOPC has written to the USAC expressing serious concerns about the ongoing governance of USAC,” the document said. “Whilst this does not put USAC in breach of ICC Membership Criteria, it reflects broader concerns regarding USAC’s governance.”

“USOPC have stated if USAC do not achieve (National Governing Body) NGB certification, they will be required to commence a process to recognise an alternate NGB for cricket.”

USA Cricket is also deemed to “not have a fit-for purpose administrative structure”.

Familiar warring has rocked USA Cricket with a spate of resignations highlighted by chief executive Dr. Noor Murad having his contract terminated in March just a few months into the role. A recruitment process to find his replacement is still ongoing.

“Currently, replacement staff are temporary and part-time contractors,” the ICC document said.

USA Cricket announced last week that directors Kuljit Singh Nijjar and Arjun Gona had been temporarily suspended after being alleged of breaching its member conduct policy.

“We are committed to the highest integrity and ethical conduct on behalf of our member organizations and partners, which is essential to grow the game of cricket in the United States,” USA Cricket chair Venu Pisike said.

If USA Cricket is put ‘on notice’ at the AGM and remains non-compliant after one year, it could then face suspension and ultimately expulsion as a member. Being ‘on notice’ is described as something like a “rap on the knuckles”, but the financial pinch is felt when members are suspended and their funding halted.

It is familiar ground for a chaotic American cricket scene after former governing body USA Cricket Association was expelled in 2017 capping a turbulent period marked by three suspensions.

USA Cricket avoided being put ‘on notice’ at last year’s AGM.

“USA Cricket has been treated with kid gloves,” an ICC board director told me. “There is no USA Cricket, quite frankly.”

Cricket Chile is also at risk of being placed ‘on notice’ due to its non-compliance with Associate membership criteria.

It comes in the aftermath of a momentous T20 World Cup, with matches played in New York, Dallas and Lauderhill.

But the spotlight is shining on the U.S. leg of the tournament – both on-and-off the field, particularly around the modular stadium in Long Island. The ground was built in just a few months and – as I reported in April – was pegged at $30 million.

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But the drop-in pitch and slow outfield made scoring particularly difficult, while some teams have reportedly complained about logistical issues such as their hotels being far away from the ground in Eisenhower Park, 30 miles east of Manhattan.

An audit is set to be conducted on the U.S. leg, particularly focusing on New York, to determine whether there was a cost blowout.

“Need to see how much was spent on New York and whether it was worth it considering the ground was torn down straight after (the U.S. leg had finished),” an ICC board director told me.

“There will be discussion on the financial and strategic point of views of American cricket considering the U.S. is a target market for the ICC.”

With USA Cricket mired in its internal woes, T20 Incorporated was the entity established in the U.S. to deliver the T20 World Cup. Its handling of the event is expected to come under scrutiny at the board meeting.