CAPE TOWN, (Reuters):

THE United States Cricket Association (USACA) has been suspended for a second time by the sport's world governing body.

A statement from the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday said USACA had failed to hold elections for its own officers and formally confirm a new constitution as agreed.

The USACA will lose funding from the ICC until its membership suspension is lifted, the statement said.

Additionally, the U.S. will be withdrawn from the World Cricket League division three series to be held in Darwin, Australia, in May and relegated from that division.

Previously suspended

The USACA was previously suspended in 2005 but that was lifted last year on the proviso it organised its administration on the lines laid out by the ICC by the end of 2006.

"It gives the ICC Board no pleasure to reenact this suspension but given the lack of progress towards a functioning administration of USA Cricket it has been left with littl said ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed in a statement.

"It is especially disappointing that theUSA players have had to be penalised in this way for matters that are largely beyond their control.

"The ICC recognises that the USA has vast potential as a cricketing nation but without a functioning administration that potential is likely to remain largely untapped."

The West Indies Cricket Board has been asked by the ICC to monitor progress in the U.S.