It is a pivotal juncture for American cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup (Photo by CHANDAN ... [+] KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

USA Cricket avoided calls for suspension, but its funding is being 'controlled' by the sport's governing body, according to sources, amid ongoing turmoil ahead of co-hosting June's T20 World Cup.

At last month's International Cricket Council quarterly meetings, the continual saga engulfing American cricket was debated and an update of the T20 World Cup was provided, sources present told me.

Familiar warring has rocked USA Cricket with a spate of resignations while chief executive Dr. Noor Murad had his contract terminated last month. USA Cricket announced last week that it had started searching for Murad's replacement.

There were calls from several directors on the ICC board to suspend USA Cricket, with even one calling for an expulsion, according to sources.

But with a historic T20 World Cup on the horizon - with matches to be played in New York, Dallas and Lauderhill - USA Cricket has survived, but its funding is being controlled by the ICC, who make payments on its behalf (using USA's share of the ICC's money).

The ICC declined to comment.

Some matches of the T20 World Cup will be played in New York (Photo by Mike Stobe-ICC/ICC via Getty ... [+] Images)ICC via Getty Images

It is a return to a chaotic American cricket scene after former governing body USA Cricket Association was expelled in 2017 capping a turbulent period marked by three suspensions.

The newly formed USA Cricket had started promisingly under the high-profile leadership of Paraag Marathe, the long-time San Francisco 49ers senior administrator, and former ICC chief operating officer Iain Higgins. But both departed in contentious circumstances in recent years and upheavel has ensued ever since.

It comes at a pivotal juncture ahead of the U.S. co-hosting cricket's biggest event of the year. But USA Cricket has had limited role in the organization and promotion of the T20 World Cup. That is almost unprecedented for a host nation, but seen as necessary given the circumstances.

T20 Incorporated, the entity established in the U.S. to deliver the event, is believed to have kept USA Cricket in the loop over matters regarding the event. T20 Inc. have been under pressure with a modular cricket stadium in New York still amid construction ahead of the World Cup starting on June 1.

The 34,000-seat Nassau County Stadium in Eisenhower Park, 30 miles east of Manhattan, is expected to cost $30 million, according to sources.

The stadium in New York is under construction (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Getty Images

The turbulence of USA Cricket has raised eyebrows among senior administrators from other countries, some of whom have long cried over "preferential treatment" granted to U.S. which is deemed a target market by the ICC.

According to the ICC, there are already 50 million cricket fans entrenched in the world's biggest sports market, with the U.S. boasting growing South Asian communities.

"What type of growth can cricket really have in the grassroots in the U.S. and proper development given the governing body (USA Cricket) is in such a mess?" an ICC board director told me.

USA Cricket hopes a new chief executive might stabilize the situation. “The board is launching this search for a dynamic and experienced leader to bring forward the next chapter of our organization,” USA Cricket chair Venu Pisike said. "The candidate’s experience and expertise in this area will be crucial to filling this incredibly important role at a critical time for us.”

The T20 World Cup opens with a clash between U.S. and Canada - cricket's oldest rivalry - on June 1 in Dallas.