US board requests ICC U-19 World Cup funding

The USA Cricket Association has written to the ICC requesting that funds be released to assist in preparations for the Under-19 World Cup which takes place in Sri Lanka next February. All funding to the USACA has been suspended since August.

The ICC confirmed that it received a letter this week, but a spokesman said that while the matter would be considered, a quick decision was unlikely as the governance situation had to be reviewed before monies would be released.

That would tend to suggest that the ICC is waiting for the outcome of the court hearing on November 7, and that it will not act on requests from the interim committee of the USACA which is due to meet next week. Even then, given the well-publicised problems the ICC has had with the USACA, it appears unlikely that funds would be handed over without significant controls and checks being in place.

The U-19 National Tournament was due to take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the second week of November, but since the original USACA announcement a few months ago almost no further details have been available, and the USACA's own website carries no updated information. Given that this competition is a key element in the U-19 side's preparation for the World Cup, it will be a major blow to both the team and the remaining credibility of the USACA if it does not take place.

Some sources hinted that it is possible that the USACA were hoping that funding from the ICC for the U-19s would enable it to stage the National Tournament.