The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 was, by all measures, a groundbreaking event for cricket in the United States. It brought the world’s best players to American shores, drew record crowds, and saw the home team produce a fairytale run to the Super Eights. The tournament was meant to be a launchpad, a definitive statement that cricket had arrived in the world’s largest sports market. Yet, in a stunning and paradoxical turn of events, the weeks following this triumph have been dominated by news of administrative collapse, financial ruin, and a suspension from the very governing body that championed the American expansion.
Today, the story of cricket in the USA is a complex narrative of on-field success overshadowed by off-field chaos. While fans and players celebrated historic victories and unprecedented engagement, the national governing body, USA Cricket (USAC), was spiraling into a crisis. This article explores the shocking recent developments, including USAC’s bankruptcy filing, its suspension by the ICC, and what this means for the future of a sport that just had its most successful moment on American soil.
From High Fives to Chapter 11: The Shocking Bankruptcy
In a move that sent shockwaves through the global cricket community, USA Cricket filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 1, 2025. This historic and deeply troubling development marks the first time an ICC member body has ever declared bankruptcy. The filing was a strategic, last-minute maneuver executed just moments before a court hearing concerning a major dispute with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the body that operates Major League Cricket (MLC).
The dispute with ACE has been a simmering issue, but the bankruptcy filing lays bare the extent of USAC’s financial and administrative disarray. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows an organization to restructure its finances while being protected from creditors, but it also means that all of USAC’s financial records—from bank accounts to assets—will be subject to federal court scrutiny.
For the players who were the heroes of the World Cup, the news creates profound uncertainty. Their contracts, which were set to run until the end of 2025, are now in jeopardy. ACE had reportedly offered to cover player payments on the condition that USAC accept a preliminary injunction related to their dispute, but USAC rejected this proposal. This has left the national team players in a state of limbo, unsure if they will be paid in full or if their contracts will be renegotiated or even terminated. It’s a harsh reality for the athletes who so recently carried the nation’s hopes on the world stage.
The ICC Steps In: A Suspension Born from Frustration
Compounding the crisis, the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially suspended USA Cricket’s membership in late September. This drastic measure was not taken lightly. It followed what the ICC described as “repeated and continued breaches of its obligations as an ICC member.” The global governing body had placed USAC “on notice” back in 2024, giving it a year to address significant issues related to governance, finance, and administration.
The key failures cited by the ICC included USAC’s inability to establish a functional governance structure and its lack of progress in achieving National Governing Body (NGB) status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. This NGB status is a critical requirement for cricket’s participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a milestone seen as pivotal for the sport’s long-term growth in the country. The ICC also pointed to “significant actions that caused reputational damage to cricket,” a clear reference to the internal conflicts and mismanagement plaguing the organization.
While the suspension is a severe indictment of USAC’s leadership, the ICC has taken steps to protect the players and the game itself. The ICC will temporarily oversee the management and administration of the US national teams. This ensures that the players can continue to compete in international events, including the 2026 T20 World Cup, for which they automatically qualified by reaching the Super Eights in 2024. This move effectively sidelines the current USAC board while attempting to preserve the on-field momentum.
The Great Paradox: Unprecedented Fan Engagement Amidst Collapse
The administrative turmoil is made all the more frustrating by the undeniable success of the T20 World Cup on American soil. The tournament revealed a massive, passionate, and previously underserved cricket fanbase in the United States. The ICC reported “unprecedented interest” and “incredible fan engagement” during the matches held in New York, Texas, and Florida.
In total, the 16 matches hosted in the USA drew an astonishing 190,000 fans. The purpose-built modular stadium in Nassau County, New York, was a particular triumph, hosting nearly 165,000 spectators across its matches. The marquee clash between India and Pakistan was played in front of a sold-out crowd of over 34,000, creating an electric atmosphere that rivaled any major American sporting event. Even the match between the USA and India drew more than 31,000 fans, demonstrating a genuine local appetite for top-tier cricket.
The digital engagement numbers were equally impressive. The ICC’s website and app saw a 370% increase in U.S.-based users compared to the entire 2022 T20 World Cup, with over half of these being new fans. This data confirms what many have long believed: cricket is not just a niche sport in America but a sleeping giant. The T20 World Cup successfully awakened it, creating a groundswell of interest that makes the subsequent administrative collapse all the more tragic.
What Comes Next? A Crossroads for American Cricket
The future of cricket in the United States is at a critical crossroads. The path forward is fraught with legal, financial, and administrative challenges.
1. The Bankruptcy Proceedings: The Chapter 11 filing will be a long and complex process. The federal bankruptcy court will oversee USAC’s restructuring, and the outcome will determine the organization’s very existence. The dispute with ACE will likely be a central part of these proceedings, as the financial health of the sport in the USA is intrinsically linked to the success of Major League Cricket.
2. ICC’s Temporary Stewardship: With the ICC in control of the national teams, players can be confident that they will continue to have opportunities to compete. This is crucial for maintaining the momentum from their World Cup performance and for preparing for major upcoming events, including the LA Olympics. However, this is a temporary solution. The ICC’s goal will be to help establish a new, competent, and stable governing body to take over in the long term.
3. The Path to the Olympics: The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics remains the ultimate prize. Achieving the required NGB status is now more urgent than ever. The ICC’s intervention may fast-track this process by clearing the administrative logjam created by the dysfunctional USAC board. A new, restructured governing body will need to work swiftly with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee to ensure cricket’s place at the games.
The current situation is a stark reminder that a successful sports ecosystem requires more than just talented players and passionate fans; it needs sound governance and stable leadership. The on-field heroes of the USA team and the 190,000 fans who showed up to support them did their part. They proved that cricket can thrive in America. Now, it is up to the administrators, with the guidance of the ICC, to navigate this crisis and build a foundation worthy of that potential.
❓ FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- USA ne Pakistan ko kaise haraaya?
Match tie hone ke baad Super Over mein, USA ne behtar khela aur Pakistan ke khilaaf bowling aur fieldi - Kya USA pehli baar T20 World Cup mein entry kar rahi thi?
Haan, yeh unki pehli T20 World Cup mein bhaagidari thi. - USA ne Super Eight kaise qualify kiya?
Unka Ireland ke khilaaf match baadal hone ki wajah se cancel hua, jisse USA automatically qualify ho gaya. - Kya Pakistan iss World Cup se bahar ho gaya?
Haan, unka performance group stage mein insufficient tha aur woh Super Eight mein nahi ja paaya.main dekh sakta ho, aur schedule bhej sakta ho
Conclusion
USA ka ye World Cup mein pehla pradarshan bahut prabhavshali raha — pehli baar khelte hue unhone ek bade khilaadi (Pakistan) ko upset kiya. Is jeet ne unhe Super Eight stage tak pahunchaya, aur saath hi 2026 T20 World Cup ke liyelivecricket bhi de di. Aane wale matches mein unke prati logon ka nazariya ab puri tarah badal gaya hai — ab sab dekhna chahenge ki ye “underdog” kahani aur kitni door jaa sakti hai.
The dream of American cricket is not dead, but it has entered its most challenging chapter yet.