Confusion remains inside the USA

Preparations for the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka are well underway, with most countries squads announced and pre-tournament itineraries in place. But with less than four weeks to go before the teams arrive in Colombo, the USA once again appears to be in a state of confusion.

At present, all ICC funding to the USA Cricket Association is suspended after serious governance issues arose in 2005. Although the ICC agreed to make an exception for the $10,000 grant available to all countries to enable them to prepare for the U-19 event, this was conditional on the USACA producing audited accounts for the year ending December 31, 2004. These were due at the end of September but have not yet been sent to the ICC, not has the budget for how the $10,000 will be spent, which was the other stipulation of the funding.

And while many stakeholders inside the USA remain unclear about who is running the USACA after the farcical EGM in Dallas last month, it seems that the ICC is also being left in the dark. Given that funding is suspended, it is surprising that the ICC has not received any correspondence from the USACA since October 5 when it was advised that there was an interim agreement which expired on November 7.

It is understood that lawyers acting for the USACA and Council of League Presidents, who had been battling for control of the game, did notify the ICC in December that more information would be provided shortly, but nothing has been heard since.

"It is not until we have this current information that the ICC Executive Board could re-consider its position in respect of recognistion of, dealings with, and funding and support to USACA," a spokesman told Cricinfo.

The USACA has not made any official statement as to its current position with regards to the CLP dispute, and its website makes no reference to the row nor to the Dallas meeting.