The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made a decisive move against the National Cricket League USA (NCL), refusing to sanction the league for future editions following repeated violations of playing XI rules. The letter from the global cricketing body, addressed to USA Cricket (USAC), stated non-compliance with regulations that stipulate at least seven USAC-affiliated players in the playing XI. NCL organizers reportedly knew these rules but still did not follow them and paid dearly for that.
The league, created with visions of sparking interest in cricket in the United States, recruited cricket superstars Wasim Akram and Vivian Richards to act as its ambassadors. More prominent stars were roped into being part of the league’s ownership group: Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar. These associations notwithstanding, the league ran operationally and administratively into multiple troubles on and off the field.
Reasons why National Cricket League USA is banned
On the field, poorly constructed wickets at some of the pop-up venues raised questions over safety. Players such as Wahab Riaz and Tymal Mills were reportedly forced to bowl spin instead of pace to minimize injury risks. Off the pitch, concerns over the handling of foreign players further tarnished the league’s credibility. Cricbuzz reported allegations that some foreign players entered the U.S. on improper visas, bypassing sports visa requirements. These cost-saving measures highlighted deeper issues in the league’s financial and operational model.
The ICC also raised more general issues regarding the proliferation of unauthorized T20 and T10 leagues in the United States, funded by the South Asian diaspora. As more than 60 international and first-class cricketers are participating in different American leagues, the ICC has started reviewing its sanctioning process. An ICC official indicated that it is considering a complete overhaul to make it more stringent in compliance and maintain the integrity of the game.
USAC has noted ICC’s warnings and decided against sanctioning the long-standing US Open T20. Perhaps this is part of the larger effort to fall into line with the ICC’s push for stricter standards in the operations of global leagues.
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