The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to suspend the United States of America Cricket (USAC) in the process of hitting the reset button as they look to overhaul the leadership and governance structure of the sport. The decision, which won’t impact their participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, has been taken by the ICC board in a virtual meeting.

The actual reasons for the suspension, before the T20 World Cup, are not clear, but it has come just over two months after the ICC granted the association three months to hold the free and fair elections and carry out the governance reforms. That was the time when the ICC reiterated that the association would remain ‘on notice’ as it has been the case since July 2024.

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USA chairman, Venu Pisike, revealed that there had been ‘no communication’ from the ICC on the suspension, which doesn’t have an immediate effect on the game, which is a part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Games. As the hosts, the USA are expected to be one of the six teams to contest for medals in both men’s and women’s categories.

ICC decides to suspend USA cricket

 The roadmap is comprised of six steps and was drawn by the ICC’s Normalization Committee, which is headed by the ICC chairman, Jay Shah. Before that, the committee met with the top of the association’s chairman and the CEO twice in April, virtually and in person in June. Following that, the USCA would step down from the fresh elections and would apply for the NGB status.

The ICC revealed that a comprehensive review of the USA cricket will be undertaken in close consultation. It’s, however, not clear who would oversee the operations of the game in the country at the moment.

ACE (American Cricket Enterprise) opted to legally challenge the termination. The former New Zealand all-rounder, Corey Anderson, who moved to the USA and became eligible to play in 2022, is now the operations director of the Association. He reckoned that the differences between the USAC and ACE had put the players in an uncertain state for their future.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded to the mail of the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the video recording of the match referee, Andy Pycroft, with the Pakistan captain, Salman Ali Agha, head coach, Mike Hesson, and some other members of the side which went viral on various social media platforms ahead of the clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The ICC pulled up the PCB for ‘violation of multiple tournament rules’ as the team delayed the encounter in protest against the world body’s action in a demand for Pycroft’s suspension from the tournament and later from their participating clashes.

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PCB’s demand grew from the handshake controversy in the Asia Cup 2025 encounter against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, as the board blamed Pycroft for the fiasco and also warned of pulling out of the rest of the tournament. After the ICC rejected the request, the Salman Ali Agha-led side shot another letter on the eve of their game against the UAE, besides not attending the press conference in Dubai.

PCB responds to ICC’s mail on Andy Pycroft’s video from Asia Cup 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board has now responded to the ICC, stating that the team’s presence had authorized the access to the PMOA, adding that his presence in the meeting with the referee is not a violation. The board has also asked the ICC that if the SOP wasn’t followed, then the ICC should look to question the match referee on whether he reported the matter to the ACU.

Pakistan started their campaign with an easy victory against the Oman side before facing a huge six-wicket defeat against India in Dubai. Coming into the last group-stage encounter, they lost against the UAE side to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the competition.

Pakistan will now face their arch-rivals, India, on September 21 in Dubai before making a visit to Abu Dhabi for the clash against Sri Lanka on September 23. Their last group-stage fixture will be against Bangladesh on September 25 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, while the final will take place two days later.

India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, has become the new number one-ranked T20I bowler in the latest rankings of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He becomes just the third Indian bowler to top the ICC T20I bowling rankings, alongside Ravi Bishnoi and the premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. Varun has become a vital T20I member of the Blue Brigade in the last 12 months.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner picked up 17 wickets in the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League at an average of 22.52 and an economy rate of 7.66, as he has crossed the 15-wicket mark in every season from 2020/21 apart from 2022. Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Thusara has jumped six ranks to reach the sixth spot in the table after speical show in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. 

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During the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 event, Chakravarthy picked up 1/3 during their opening clash against the United Arab Emirates before backing it up with an impressive haul of 1/24 in four overs against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy and the West Indies’ Akeal Hossein are in the second and third spots. 

Varun Chakravarthy becomes No. 1-ranked T20I bowler in latest ICC ranking

Pakistan’s duo Sufiyan Muqeem has risen four spots to the 11th rank, while the leg spinner, Abrar Ahmed, has gone up 11 places to the 16th spot. Their left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, has risen a whopping 16 rungs to the 23rd position in the table. Abhishek Sharma has held his number one spot for T20I batting with a new career-high rating.

England’s Phil Salt is in the second spot, and Jos Buttler is at the third spot, while South Africa’s duo Dewald Brevis has gone up two places to the 11th. Aiden Markram has got the 30th rank in the table. India’s premier all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, remains at the top of the T20I all-rounders’ rankings.

Latest ICC Rankings for T20I bowlers-

After Pakistan’s tri-series victory against Afghanistan, their stars have risen in the ICC T20 rankings. Their left-arm spinner, Sufiyan Muqeem, has risen seven places to 15th overall on the back of his two wickets in the final at Sharjah, while Shaheen Afridi jumps four spots to 22nd. Abrar Ahmed has improved 39 spots to equal 28th after his six wickets in two games at the event.

The left-handed aggressive opening batter of the Green Brigade, Fakhar Zaman, has been the biggest winner as they climbed nine spots to 68th, thanks to his 155 runs in the series as Sri Lanka’s top-order batter, Kusal Perera, has gained three places to move to the ninth spot after his unbeaten fifty against Zimbabwe in Harare.

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Zimbabwe’s T20I captain and veteran all-rounder, Sikandar Raza, has gained three spots to fourth overall in the list of T20I all-rounder for his special show against Sri Lanka. He recently became the number one-ranked all-rounder in the 50-over format.

Jofra Archer closes in on the number one ODI bowlers’ spot in latest ICC rankings

The premier fast bowler of the Three Lions, Jofra Archer, collected eight wickets in the recent three-match series against South Africa that included a wonderful spell of 4/18 in the third and final game at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. He has been rewarded 16 spots in the rankings to move up 16 places to the third spot, only behind two spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Maheesh Theekshana.

Archer’s teammate, spinner Adil Rashid, has improved seven spots to eighth on the same list for ODI bowlers. The three batters of the England side, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, and Jacob Bethell, also went up in the list of ICC ODI batters’ rankings.

With less than a month to go before the start of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed a staggering increase in the prize money. The overall prize at the eight-team tournament is INR 39.55 crore, which is a rise of 297% from around INR 10 crore at the last edition held in New Zealand in 2022.

The total prize has been eclipsed at the Men’s World Cup in India two years ago, which had a total of $10 million. The winners of the 13th season of the Women’s World Cup 2025 will receive a prize money of $4.48 million, which is a 239% hike from the $1.32 million awarded to Australia in 2022.

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On the other hand, the runners-up will earn a prize of $2.24 million, which is an increase of 273% in comparison to the $600000 England won three years ago., The two losing semifinalists will take home $1.12 million each. The event will provide another special platform for women’s cricket.

ICC declares record-breaking prize money for Women's ODI World Cup 2025

Each group-stage participant is confirmed to win $250000, while each group-stage win will provide the victorious sides $34314. On the other hand, the second half of the final table will see the teams finishing fifth and sixth will take home $700000 each, and seventh and eighth will get $280000.

“This announcement marks a defining milestone in the journey of women’s cricket. This fourfold increase in prize money is a landmark moment for women’s cricket and reflects our clear commitment to its long-term growth. Our message is simple: women cricketers must know they will be treated on par with men if they choose this sport professionally.” The chairman of the ICC, Jay Shah, expressed.

“The uplift underscores our ambition to deliver a world-class ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and to inspire the next generation of players and fans. Women’s cricket is on a remarkable upward trajectory, and with this step, we are confident the momentum will accelerate. We call upon all stakeholders, fans, media, partners, and Member Boards, to join us in championing the women’s game and ensuring it receives the recognition and respect it deserves.” Shah addressed.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a landmark partnership to grow women’s cricket ahead of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in India, which starts on the second week of September. The ICC announced its collaboration with Google as a global partnership, which shows its advanced technology and commitment to supporting women’s sports in increasing accessibility.

Two major global events are scheduled in the next 10 months, including the Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales. The alliance makes way for the growth and visibility of women’s cricket after the announcement of Unilever as ICC’s first global partner earlier this year.

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“This partnership with Google is a landmark moment for women’s cricket and underlines our commitment to taking the women’s game to even greater heights. By harnessing Google’s world-class innovation, we will be able to create more engaging experiences for fans and bring the sport closer to people everywhere.” ICC chairman, Jay Shah, expressed in a statement.

ICC and Google announce partnership to elevate women’s cricket

Due to this, the fans’ experience in women’s cricket will be dynamic and meaningful with Google products, including the Google Gemini, Google Pay, Google Pixel, and Android. This has been designed to bring the fans closer to the key moments of the game, players, and the stories. It expands the fan journey from match highlights to celebrating wins.

“Women’s cricket is growing faster than ever before, and this collaboration will not only help accelerate its global reach but also inspire future generations to see cricket as a game where they belong. Together with Google, we aim to make women’s cricket a truly global force, resonating with fans in both established and emerging markets.” Jay Shah addressed the statement.

“Cricket has always been about community and shared passion. We are proud to partner with the ICC to bring fans of women's cricket closer to the game through our technology.” VP marketing at Google India, Shekar Khosla, explained in the statement. “This alliance is not just about a single tournament; it's about building deeper engagement, making the sport more accessible.”

Australia players have gained huge rankings in the latest update among the ICC ODI batters. They earned a 2-1 series defeat against South Africa at home, having already lost the first couple of 50-over fixtures. They were rewarded with the latest rankings in the batting department after their huge victory during the final game in McKay.

The home side’s captain, Mitchell Marsh, won the toss and decided to bat first on a firm surface. Centuries from the top three of the national side, Travis Head, Marsh, and Cameron Green, along with the half-century from Alex Carey, pushed them to reach 431/2 in their allotted 50 overs as the Proteas were bundled out for 155 to lose by 276 runs.

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Head gained one place to move to the 11th position, while Marsh jumped four rungs to move to the 44th. On the other hand, Green raises a whopping 40 slots to 78th. Josh Inglis has also improved 23 slots to move to the 64th position as a result of his 87 in the final innings in Mackay against the Rainbow Nation.

Australia stars improve in ICC ODI rankings’ update

India’s opening batting duo, Shubman Gill and captain Rohit Sharma, remain at the top of the rankings for batters, followed by Babar Azam at the third position in the table. In the bowling rankings, Keshav Maharaj has Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana at the top with 671 points.

ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings

ICC Men’s ODI bowling rankings

Many cricket fans were stunned on Wednesday (August 20) while not see the names of two experienced Indian cricketers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings. There is a latest development where the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also revealed the reason.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both Indian cricketers, have already retired from the T20I and Test cricket formats. However, they are still officially active in the ODI format. Just like the other formats, Kohli was the previous captain of the Indian ODI team before the present leader Rohit Sharma. 

In the ODI cricket history, Rohit is the 10th leading run-scorer, and Kohli is the third most run-scorer. In the top 10 present ODI batting rankings, there are four Indians, and Rohit is in the second position, and Kohli is in the fourth place. However, on Wednesday, both Kohli and Rohit were briefly missing from the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings. ICC reacted quickly as the ranking was updated with their names. 

There was an error

Later, an ICC spokesperson admitted that it was a technical glitch that was fixed quickly. The spokesperson told Hindustan Times, “There was an error in our rankings tables today, but it has been rectified.”

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Kohli and Rohit last played in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played for India during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which was won by the Men in Blues under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. India remained unbeaten in that tournament. Kohli was the fifth leading run-scorer in the tournament with 218 runs in five innings (average 54.50), including one century and one half-century. Meanwhile, Rohit was the 11th most run-scorer in the tournament with 180 runs in five innings, while the opener won the Player of the Match award in the Final for scoring 76 off 83 balls against New Zealand in the successful 252-run chase. 

To err is human. Yes, this saying can't be any truer for the umpires who have been at the forefront of numerous howlers since the very inception of the game. As human beings themselves, they are also entitled to commit mistakes. While umpiring standards have remained questionable for the most part before the post-DRS era, the use of technology has certainly eradicated some of the common blunders that used to be committed time and again by the umpires. 

Although the close caught behind appeals and contentions LBW calls have now been put to rest, thanks to the timely arrival of Snicko and DRS technologies, a rather strange kind of umpiring howler has surfaced in recent times. It has got to do with umpires failing to accurately count the number of balls in an over. Although these instances are a rarity in the contemporary cricket world, when they do, they tend to create an unprecedented buzz throughout the cricketing fraternity. From calling an over prematurely to allowing an additional delivery, here are the top five moments when umpires miscounted an over in modern-day cricket (21st century). 

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Pakistan vs Netherlands, 2023 ODI World Cup

In Pakistan’s 14th over, only five deliveries were bowled. The on-field umpires, Adrian Holdstock and Chris Brown, mistakenly believed a six‑ball over had been completed after Saud Shakeel hit the fifth ball for a boundary. They promptly moved to what they thought was the next over. The TV umpire, Rod Tucker, did not intervene to correct the miscount, and the match continued. Besides, there was no involvement from the scorers and the match referee, either, when the incident occurred. By the time the mistake was uncovered, the game had already progressed by a few overs. As a result, the official scorecard graphic had to be taken down as the correct scores could not be updated on time. After nearly 30-long minutes, the scorecard finally appeared on the TV sets, giving the viewers some clarity regarding the scores. 

Bangladesh vs New Zealand, 2023 ODI tour

In the 47th over of New Zealand’s innings, bowled by Mahedi Hasan, the on-field umpire (Sharfuddoula) lost track of the deliveries. As a result, instead of the regulation six balls, Mahedi Hasan ended up bowling seven deliveries in that over. Fortunately, the extra delivery didn’t influence the match outcome. New Zealand captain Lockie Ferguson swung and missed, and no runs were scored off that illegitimate ball. The error occurred mid to late in New Zealand's reply, during a key phase of the innings. Despite the blunder, there was no tangible consequence on the scoreboard. Bangladesh went on to lose the match by 86 runs, largely thanks to Ish Sodhi’s 6-wicket haul.

Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 2021 Sri Lanka tour

Another instance of a seven-ball over occurred during South Africa's white-ball tour to Sri Lanka in 2021. During the 1st ODI, one of the on-field umpires miscounted while Aiden Markram was bowling, resulting in a seven-ball over in the 16th over of Sri Lanka’s innings. As Markram was sifting through his deliveries, the scorers had had no time in alerting the on-field umpires about the impending blunder. As a consequence, Sri Lanka went on to win the game by 14 runs, with Markram playing a crucial role by adding a gutsy 96 to take his side close to the finishing line. 

Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers, 2019–20 BBL (Big Bash League)

A controversial moment ensued when Michael Klinger was dismissed on the seventh legitimate delivery of the over, an illegal occurrence because the umpires miscounted. The on-field dismissal had to stand according to the laws, even though the broadcaster noticed the extra delivery during the review. The over, bowled by Ben Dwarshuis against the Sydney Sixers, mistakenly allowed a seventh legal delivery. During that delivery, Klinger edged a shot and was caught at third man by Steven O’Keefe. Upon delivery, the umpires consulted the TV umpire to validate the catch, but no one noticed the extra delivery, even though it was indeed the seventh legal ball with no wides or no-balls preceding it. Cricket Australia later acknowledged the umpiring blunder and stated a review process would be established to probe this matter further. 

Negative consequences of a miscalculated over

The immediate impact of a miscounted over is felt by the broadcasting team, who are responsible for showing accurate scores to the viewers at all times. The scoring system is predominantly designed to handle only six balls in an over. As per the current mechanism, the scoring system can potentially crash if the over is to be called earlier, before the completion of six balls, or if another delivery is allowed outside the six balls.  During the ongoing ODI WC clash between Pakistan and the Netherlands in 2023, the entire scorecard graphic had to be taken down for 30 minutes as the broadcasting team continued to grapple with updating the right score. 

Besides, the scorers who tend to work behind the scenes during a live game also get a headache when such obstacles are encountered. Apart from overall team scores, scores need to have a close tab of individual scores and performances. But when an umpire miscounts, the scorers need to make additional amendments to that miscalculated over and also accurately adjust the total number of overs against the bowler, who played a part in that miscounted over. Moreover, counting the balls in an over is of paramount importance in a limited-overs fixture. In white-ball cricket, the number of deliveries isn't infinite, hence every ball has significance. Minimizing or stretching an over by even a single delivery can result in the umpires unintentionally giving undue advantage to either of the two sides. 

While the United States cricket team has recently impressed the cricket world, especially in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 as the co-hosts with West Indies, their cricket board is in deep trouble, as the board is in danger of a suspension from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Here, we are going through the whole story briefly.  

In July 2024, the ICC sent a notice to the United States Cricket (USAC) after citing the board's lack of a "fit for purpose" governance and administrative structure. To oversee compliance and reforms of the USAC, the ICC established a normalisation committee during that notice. This governance notice has a 12-month period that will end this July, while there is very little progress in the USAC. 

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United States Cricket leadership has big issue

According to the latest TOI report source, if the USAC leadership doesn't change significantly before the upcoming ICC Annual Conference this July, the ICC is likely to suspend the USAC. Surely, it will be a terrible story for the USA cricket teams, which have just started to make some impact in world cricket, that can inspire the cricket world.  

The TOI report claimed that an ICC official stated that the situation in the USAC is unstable due to dysfunction and internal disputes. Talking about the present ICC situation, the official further added, “The ICC’s position is clear: effective governance is non-negotiable, especially ahead of cricket’s return to the Olympics at LA 2028."

Will we see some resignations from USAC?

This June, an ICC delegation visited Los Angeles for meetings with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). In their meeting with the USAC members, the ICC representative reportedly requested the board members to step down voluntarily. While some of the members are reportedly ready to resign, others haven't shown their supportive natures for the solution yet. 

Meanwhile, the TOI report has also learnt that the ICC officials' recent meetings in Los Angeles have been pushed into informal categories rather than any official talks. 

According to the TOI report, several resignations are expected from the USAC in the next few weeks to save the board from any tough sanctions from the ICC.