Project USA scrapped

Hopes that the USA would become a major force in world cricket were effectively ended with the announcement by the ICC that Project USA had been scrapped.

An ICC statement said that "in light of the inability of the United States of America Cricket Association to address the fundamental governance issues of the game in the USA, the executive board decided to immediately terminate its initiative to stage international cricket in the USA to generate funds to develop the game in this country."

Ehsan Mani, the ICC's president, said that the board was left with little choice but to make this decision. "The decision to terminate Project USA is taken with some regret. Cricket is growing in America and Gary Hopkins who was appointed to run this project had done some excellent work in preparing the way for international cricket to be played there," Mani said. "Nevertheless, the success of this project relies on having an effective governing body for cricket in the United States.

"Our experience in dealing with the USACA and the current controversy over the governance of the game in this country has convinced the board that it cannot support investing ICC members funds in this project and it has been terminated."

Constant in-fighting within the board and growing animosity between senior officials led to the ICC suspending the project in February. But rather than grab the bull by the horns, the USACA executive did almost nothing except provide further examples of its inability to act decisively.

In the same week that the ICC met, the USACA's president, Gladstone Dainty, embroiled the association in further controversy when he suspended the secretary and attempted to disqualify candidates after the poll had closed.

There was also a feeling in some circles that the ICC needed the USA more than USA needed it and that it wouldn't dare to abandon the project. That was always a risky strategy, and that particular bluff has been well and truly called.