Washington: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has significant action against USA’s National Cricket League (NCL) just one after implementing stricter guidelines for T20 and T10 leagues globally. The ICC has decided not to sanction future editions of the league.
This was communicated to USA Cricket (USAC), according to a report bybuzz. The letter cited NCL’s failure to comply with player composition rules as the primary reason.
The NCL was required to field seven USAC-affiliated associate players. Additionally, the league violated sanction regulations, which were known to N officials prior to the event.
The N had attempted to generate excitement by appointing high-profile ambassadors such as Wasim Akram and Vivian Richards. Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar were also part of the league’s ownership group. Despite the involvement of prominent figures, they faced operational issues from the outset.
The ICC letter referenced problems with the NCL both “on and off the pitch.”
In addition to not adhering to the player composition rules, with six or seven foreign players fielded in multiple instances, the quality of the pitches at the pop-up was also a concern. Bowlers such as Wahab Riaz and Tymal Mills were compelled to bowl spin to prevent injuries to batsmen.
A previous report from Cricbuzz raised concerns about the league’s management of foreign players and potential violations of U.S. immigration laws.
Sponsoring sports visas for an American cricket tournament with approximately teams typically incurs a of around $,000It has also been learned not all players participating in the tournament entered the United States sports visas, as previously reported by Cricbuzz. This indicates that costing measures may have been implemented, the absence a of clear revenue model.
USA emerged as a popular destination for new T and 10 leagues. This popularity is partly attributed to the financial resources of the South Asian diaspora to invest in the sport. The presence of nearly 60 first-class cricketers within the American cricket landscape further supports the notion of establishing quick leagues.
A report also disclosed that the ICC receives the highest number of applications for T20/T league sanctions from the USA.
An ICC official has indicated plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the governing body’s sanctioning process in the future.
The USAC appears to have the ICC’s warning regarding NCL seriously. USAC has opted not to sanction the Open T20, a well-established weekend tournament with a history spanning over ten years. The precise reasons for the disapproval remain unclear; however, it may be part of the ICC’s broader initiative to reset league sanctioning standards globally, as by the ICC official.
