A year after introducing more stringent guidelines for the approval of T20 and T10 leagues globally, the ICC set a significant precedent by taking action against the USA’s National Cricket League (NCL) for not adhering to playing eleven regulations. In a letter addressed to USA Cricket (USAC) and obtained by , the governing body announced its decision to withhold sanctioning for future editions of the league. The letter specifically highlighted the failure to comply with the playing eleven rules, which stipulate the inclusion of 7 players affiliated with or associated to USAC, alongside violations of sanction regulations that NCL officials were aware of prior to the tournament.
The NCL sought to generate excitement among cricket enthusiasts by enlisting icons such as Wasim Akram and Vivian Richards as its ambassadors. Additionally, it stirred interest by welcoming Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar into its ownership group. However, the allure of these notable figures could not rectify the operational shortcomings that plagued the league from the start. The ICC’s letter also hinted at challenges faced by the NCL both ‘on and off the pitch’. Beyond the disregard for the playing eleven rules, which frequently allowed the inclusion of 6-7 foreign players, the quality of the playing surface deteriorated to the extent that bowlers like Wahab Riaz and Tymal Mills had to resort to bowling spin to avoid injuring batsmen.
Additionally, concerns regarding the league’s management of foreign players and potential breaches of U.S. immigration regulations have been reported. Typically, sponsoring sports category visas for an American cricket tournament featuring about six teams can cost approximately USD 200,000. However, it was independently confirmed that not all players entered the USA using valid sports visas for the event. The lack of a sustainable revenue model for operations suggested that neglecting visa processes appeared more as a cost-cutting strategy rather than a mere oversight.
The USA has become a significant hub for burgeoning T20 and T10 leagues, driven largely by the financial resources of the South Asian diaspora, eager to engage with the sport. The presence of nearly 60 first-class and international cricketers in the American cricket community further supports the notion of launching a fast-paced league. can confirm that the USA accounts for the highest volume of applications for T20/T10 league sanctioning submitted to the ICC, with an ICC official acknowledging plans to completely revamp the sanctioning process in the future.
USAC appears to have taken the ICC’s warning regarding the NCL seriously, as it has chosen not to sanction the US Open T20, which is one of the several temporary tournaments with a history spanning over a decade. The reasons behind the sanctioning rejection remain uncertain, but it might have been part of a larger initiative suggested by the ICC aimed at revamping global league sanctioning standards.
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