ICC Extends Suspension, Grants USA Cricket More Time
In an unexpected twist at its annual general meeting, the International Cricket Council (ICC) extended the suspension notice originally issued to USA Cricket (USAC), providing an additional three months for the Jeetbuzz organization to resolve its persistent governance issues. The decision offers temporary relief to USAC but maintains the pressure for urgent reform.
Behind Closed Doors: ICC’s Push for Board Resignations
The decision followed informal discussions between ICC Chairman Jay Shah and key USAC figures, Chairman Venu Pisike and CEO Johnathan Atkieson. During those meetings, the ICC, reportedly guided by recommendations from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), called for the resignation of all nine current USAC board directors. Subsequently, a formal letter from the ICC outlined a “roadmap to normalisation” which includes the appointment of three independent directors, jointly selected by the ICC and USOPC, after the resignations of the current leadership.
Governance Reforms and New Board Structure
As part of the reformation plan, USAC is required to carry out comprehensive governance reforms. A critical component of this includes conducting free and fair elections within the next three months. Under the revised constitution, now aligned with USOPC standards, the board will expand from 10 to 12 members, incorporating two additional player representatives.
Nine of the twelve positions will be up for election, while the three independent director roles will be filled through appointment. Initially, the ICC had insisted on a two-year “cooling-off” period for existing directors before they Jeetwin could contest again, but this clause has now been rescinded. However, both Chairman Venu Pisike and board member Nadia Gruny will be ineligible due to term limits.
Player Eligibility Questions and Legal Disputes Cloud Progress
Despite the revised roadmap, ambiguity remains. One unresolved issue involves whether Suraj Salver meets the criteria to stand again as a player director. Although he has played in domestic tournaments like the Super50 Cup against Caribbean teams, his lack of appearances against ICC Full or Associate Members may disqualify him under USOPC’s “international athlete” definition.
Adding further complication is an ongoing legal dispute within the board. Four directors—Kuljit Nijjar, Arjun Gona, Atul Rai, and Patricia Whitaker (who has since been removed)—have filed a case against other board members, including Pisike, Salver, and Nadia Gruny, citing governance misconduct. The ICC has urged USAC to resolve the internal legal battle promptly.
Strained Partnership with ACE and Olympic Recognition in Limbo
Beyond internal matters, the ICC emphasized the need for USAC to repair its fractured relationship with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the commercial rights holder for Major League Cricket. The ICC stressed that cooperation between USAC and ACE is vital for cricket’s growth in the United States.
At a broader level, USAC has yet to be formally recognized by the USOPC as the sport’s National Governing Body (NGB), a designation essential for Olympic participation. The USOPC’s correspondence to USAC made it clear that such recognition is unlikely unless the board undergoes significant leadership change or is replaced entirely.
Uncertain Path Ahead for USA Cricket
The ICC’s decision to extend USAC’s suspension—while not enforcing immediate leadership overhaul—has added complexity to an already delicate situation. It was a move the USOPC reportedly did not foresee, and its next steps remain uncertain. The future of cricket governance in the U.S. now hangs in the balance, with the coming months likely to define the direction of the sport’s administration and its Olympic ambitions.
