The International Cricket Council says it will underwrite the United States’ high-performance programme while the national governing body, USA Cricket (USAC), remains suspended and mired in bankruptcy.
“[The ICC] is ready to provide funding for, and, if need be, run all aspects of the USA High Performance Programme during USAC’s suspension, including honouring USA Cricket’s obligations to pay the players selected and contracted to play for the USA teams,” the global board confirmed on Monday.
Key facts first.
• USAC was suspended by the ICC in September for “serious breaches” of membership criteria.
• The board has since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
• National squads are already qualified for three major events: the Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe (January), the men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka (February-March), and – further ahead – the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Those tournaments are non-negotiable from the ICC’s point of view. In a pointed release, it said it would not allow “the dysfunction of USAC to compromise USA’s participation and competitiveness at global events, or the work of the ICC in cricket’s return to the Olympics”.
Money on the table – and rejected
Immediately after USAC’s bankruptcy filing, the ICC offered a loan that would have covered outstanding player and high-performance staff salaries. “Unfortunately, that offer was not accepted by USA Cricket,” the statement noted. The council is now exploring ways to pay athletes and coaches directly, bypassing the national board if necessary.
Players’ voices have been muted publicly, though a senior squad member told this writer the group is “trying to stay focused on cricket” and grateful the world body is “keeping the wheels turning”.
Partnership with the US Olympic movement
With LA28 looming, the ICC is collaborating with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) on a bespoke performance pathway. “Our foremost responsibility is to the players who represent the United States on the world stage,” an ICC spokesperson said. “The bankruptcy proceedings initiated by USA Cricket should not, and will not, derail their preparation for ICC events or the LA28 Olympic Games. The ICC stands ready to manage and fund the High-Performance Programme and ensure all National team players continue to receive the support they deserve.
“We continue to work closely with the USOPC to build a robust and stable high-performance pathway for LA28. The future of USA’s players, and the sport’s growth in a key market, remains a major priority for the ICC.”
Governance clean-up continues
While finances grab headlines, governance remains the deeper issue. A Normalisation Committee appointed by the ICC earlier this year is still attempting to untangle long-standing constitutional and election problems inside USAC. Until that process is complete, sanctioning of domestic competitions – including Major League Cricket – will be handled directly by Dubai.
Former USA captain Saurabh Netravalkar offered a measured view: “Players just want clarity. If the ICC can give us that, it’s welcome. We’d prefer a functioning home board, but right now stability trumps everything.”
A delicate balance
Stepping in to run a member’s elite programme is unusual and, to some administrators, sets an awkward precedent. Yet the ICC believes the United States, as a strategic growth market and forthcoming Olympic host, warrants the intervention. Independent analyst Hilary Rogers calls the move “pragmatic”. “The optics aren’t perfect,” she says, “but leaving athletes unpaid weeks before a World Cup would be far worse.”
For supporters, the immediate concern is simple: will the men’s, women’s and age-group sides prepare properly? The ICC insists they will. Players, meanwhile, have taken to self-funded camps and remote fitness sessions while they await concrete schedules for the new year.
What happens next?
• A detailed funding mechanism is expected in January.
• USAC’s creditors’ hearing, also in January, should reveal whether the board can emerge from bankruptcy or face a lengthier hiatus.
• The Normalisation Committee will publish a draft constitution in the first quarter of 2026, aiming for fresh elections before mid-year.
Plenty of moving parts, then, but for now the cheques – and hope – come from the ICC.
