ICC confirms USACA events as disapproved cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that two bilateral series being planned by former ICC Member United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) would constitute unsanctioned events within the ICC’s regulatory framework.

USACA, which was expelled by the ICC in June 2017, recently announced plans to host Cricket India’s All India Women Twenty20 Cricket Association for a bilateral women’s T20I series in April 2018 and Cricket India’s Indian Twenty20 Cricket Federation for a men’s series the following month. Neither event is recognized by the BCCI or ICC.

In accordance with the ICC’s regulations on sanctioning events, no person affiliated to a National Cricket Federation is permitted to participate in any disapproved cricket. This prohibition applies to players, match officials, coaching or management staff affiliated to a National Cricket Federation or any team affiliated to a National Cricket Federation.

All India Women Twenty20 Cricket Association’s women’s T20I series and men’s series – are not recognized by BCCI or ICC

The ICC and the BCCI have chosen not to recognize both the associations. While the ICC does indeed impose sanctions on several off the books tournaments that are played all over the world, the BCCI does not really have any sanctions, so to speak. The common practice for players opting to play in certain series would involve them receiving a No Objection Certificate or a NoC to permit them to play in these leagues.

The Indian Cricket League (ICL), a spin-off of the IPL was one such rebel cricket league founded by former Indian captain Kapil Dev in 2005 that catered to cricketers who had left the establishment to play in the tournament. Although it is not common practice to align with rebel series, it would certainly benefit a lot of players who are not really in the grand scheme of things when it comes to playing the sport.