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ICC suspends USA Cricket Association membership
MUMBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC) Board, exercising its power under Article 2.7 of the ICC’s Articles of Association, has unanimously decided to suspend the membership of the USA Cricket Association (USACA) with immediate effect.
The decision to suspend USACA was made after careful consideration of the findings set out in a recently constituted review group report to the ICC Board on the Status and Activities of USACA – a comprehensive document based on input from over 100 stakeholders, including USACA – and followed a meeting with USACA representatives during the ICC Annual Conference week.
The Review Group, in its comprehensive report, has expressed “significant concerns about the governance, finance, reputation and cricketing activities of USACA.”
The suspension means that USACA will not be entitled to receive any ICC funding nor will it be entitled to determine whether cricket matches and events staged in the US should have the status of approved or disapproved cricket. Instead, the ICC will make that determination, in accordance with Section 32.2 of the ICC Operating Manual.
However, the ICC Board, in its absolute discretion and considering that the players should not suffer due to this suspension, has confirmed it will allow the USA cricket team to participate in next month’s ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 in Ireland and Scotland. The USA U19 team will also be permitted to play in the upcoming Americas U19 Championship in Bermuda.
ICC chairman N.Srinivasan said, “The ICC Board has made this difficult decision after careful consideration and in the best interest of the game and all cricketers in the USA. The country has tremendous potential but because of governance, financial and cricketing challenges, the opportunity to grow the game is not being properly nurtured. The ICC Board had put USACA on notice in its January meeting this year and had hoped that it would show some urgency to address and improve in the areas that were identified as weaknesses. Unfortunately, the response to date has been inadequate and it has proved necessary for the ICC Board to take further action.”
In order to have its suspension lifted and its membership reinstated, USACA will be required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the ICC Board, by reference to detailed and specific evidence, that conditions relating to governance, finance and its cricket activities have been addressed and remedied in full.
As part of the follow-up to the Board’s decision, the ICC chief executive – assisted by the management and representatives of the BCCI, CA, ECB and the WICB – will assume responsibility for monitoring USACA’s efforts to satisfy the reinstatement conditions on an ongoing basis. The same group will also seek to support the development of a meaningful strategy for the future promotion and development of cricket in the USA, including through the appointment of a locally-based advisory group and unification of all stakeholders.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
