ICC Suspends USA Star Batter Ahead of T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the provisional suspension of United States of America (USA) batter Aaron Jones for breaching anti-corruption codes enforced by both the ICC and Cricket West Indies (CWI).

According to the ICC, the charges against the 31-year-old batter are primarily related to the Bim10 tournament during the 2023–24 season, which falls under the jurisdiction of the CWI Anti-Corruption Code.

Two additional charges relate to international matches and fall under the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code.

Jones has been provisionally suspended from all forms of cricket with immediate effect and has been given 14 days, starting from January 28, 2026, to respond to the charges.

The ICC stated that the charges are part of a wider investigation and indicated that further charges against other individuals may follow in due course.

“These charges are part of a wider investigation which is likely to result in further charges being issued against other participants in due course,” the ICC said in a statement.

Jones’s suspension comes just days before the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. The development may force the USA to consider alternatives, as the team has yet to announce its squad for the tournament.

Jones has represented the USA in 52 One Day Internationals and 48 T20 Internationals, scoring a total of 2,434 runs across formats, including one century and 13 half-centuries.

Charges Against Aaron Jones

• Breach of Article 2.1.1 of the CWI Code – Fixing, contriving to fix or otherwise influencing improperly, or being a party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or other aspect of matches in the Bim10 tournament in 2023/24 (or attempting to do so).
• Breach of Article 2.4.2 of the CWI Code – Failing to disclose to Cricket West Indies details of any approaches or invitations to engage in conduct that would amount to a breach of the CWI Code.
• Breach of Article 2.4.4 of the CWI Code – Failing or refusing to cooperate with a reasonable investigation carried out by the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (or his/her designee) in relation to possible offences under the CWI Code.
• Breach of Article 2.4.4 of the ICC Code – Failing to disclose to the ICC ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the ICC Code.
• Breach of Article 2.4.7 of the ICC Code – Obstructing the ACU’s investigation into possible Corrupt Conduct by concealing and/or tampering with information that may have been relevant to the investigation, or which may have constituted evidence or led to the discovery of evidence of Corrupt Conduct.