The United States of America Cricket Association has had its membership suspended by the ICC.

Usaca was put on notice in January that it faced suspension, and yesterday the ICC carried out its threat saying Usaca was suspended with ‘immediate effect’.

According to a statement put out by the game’s governing body the decision to suspend Usaca was made after careful consideration of an inquiry into the status and activities of Usaca and the game in the US.

The group that compiled the report is said to have expressed “significant concerns about the governance, finance, reputation and cricketing activities of Usaca.”

The suspension means that Usaca will get no ICC funding, and the ICC will now run the game in the US until the issues that caused concern have been rectified.

However, the ICC, has said that the suspension will not apply to the US cricket teams. The national team will be allowed to play in next month’s ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 in Ireland and Scotland, while the under-19s will also be allowed to play in Bermuda next month in the world cup qualifier.

“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,” Mr N Srinivasan, the ICC chairman, said.

“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 and 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 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 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 US, including through the appointment of a locally-based advisory group and unification of all stakeholders.