While we still await an answer from the Bermuda Cricket Board regarding the questions put to them on Sunday, one of our opponents in the North American Cup is having issues.
Aaron Jones, a key figure in the United States side that defeated Bermuda at last year's North America Cup, has been provisionally suspended from all cricket with immediate effect. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday that the 31-year-old batter faces five charges of breaching anti-corruption codes, predominantly related to the 2023-24 Bim10 tournament in Barbados.
The charges against Jones include allegations of match-fixing or attempting to improperly influence matches, as well as failing to disclose corrupt approaches and obstructing official investigations. Jones, who was born in New York and has been a central pillar of the USA’s recent rise on the global stage, has 14 days to respond to the allegations. He is currently part of an 18-man training camp in Sri Lanka, but this suspension makes him ineligible for the final 15-man squad for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup.
The USA’s preparations have been further destabilized by news that star fast bowler Ali Khan has reportedly been denied an Indian visa. Khan, an instrumental part of the team’s historic Super Eight run in 2024, revealed the news via an Instagram story on Tuesday while training in Colombo.
The Pakistan-born pacer is one of four players in the USA squad facing similar administrative hurdles due to their place of birth. Under current Indian regulations, individuals born in Pakistan must undergo rigorous security checks regardless of their current citizenship, a process that has previously caused significant delays for international athletes.
With the USA scheduled to face hosts India in the tournament opener in Mumbai on February 7th, the potential absence of their leading strike bowler would be a massive tactical blow. While the ICC is reportedly working behind the scenes to resolve the matter, the clock is ticking for the American side as they look to finalize their travel plans for the showpiece event.
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