The United States’ national cricket league has been banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC). From now on, the country’s cricket board will no longer be allowed to organize T20 and T10 leagues. This development comes shortly after Jay Shah, the secretary of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), assumed the role of ICC Chairman on December 1. The ICC issued a letter to the United States Cricket Association regarding this matter. Cricket news website Cricbuzz confirmed this information upon receiving a copy of the letter.
The ban primarily stems from violations of ICC rules concerning the inclusion of foreign players. According to ICC regulations, domestic T20 and T10 leagues must have at least seven local players in the playing XI, with a maximum of four foreign players allowed. However, the US cricket league failed to adhere to this rule, featuring six to seven foreign players in several matches. Additionally, the leagues reportedly violated various authorization requirements.
Recently, the United States had emerged as a popular destination for organizing T20 and T10 leagues. To boost its global recognition, the league recruited cricket legends like Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and West Indies’ Sir Vivian Richards for promotional activities. Indian cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar were also associated as partners. Despite involving such star power, the US Cricket Association failed to properly manage the league.
The ICC further highlighted numerous issues both on and off the field. Problems included substandard pitches and outfields, which posed a significant risk of injuries to players. For instance, pacers like Wahab Riaz and Tymal Mills were reportedly made to bowl spin to avoid injuring batters.
Additionally, a previous Cricbuzz report revealed that foreign players participating in the league violated US immigration laws. Allegedly, many players entered the country without proper sports visas. While obtaining a visa typically costs $200,000, some players reportedly bypassed this process, entering the country unlawfully to save costs.