The body was unveiled on September 24, 2017, as a proposed successor to the United States of America Cricket Association, which had been expelled from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June 2017 due to governance issues. In January 2019, it was approved as an associate member of the ICC.
History
Background
In June 2017, the ICC voted to expel the USACA from the ICC, due to issues with governance of the sport in the United States. Control of the United States national team was handed over to ICC Americas until a new board was formed.[3]
Creation and first years
On September 24, 2017 (the anniversary of the 1844 Canada-United States cricket match, and on the heels of a U.S. victory in the Canada-U.S. K.A. Auty Cup), USA Cricket was announced as a new proposed sanctioning body, including a logo unveiled by Denver-based group Adrenalin (using a cricket bat as the main symbol, deeming it to have stronger symbolism with the sport among the U.S. audience than other common symbols, such as the stumps or ball). The new body stated that its goal was to help build popularity for the game among a "mainstream" audience (as opposed to predominantly expats from other regions), with project manager Eric Parthen describing it as a "fresh start" that would "celebrate the past and look to the future".[4][5]
USA Cricket elected its first independent board in mid-2018.[6] In November 2018, USA Cricket put out a request for proposals surrounding the establishment of a domestic Twenty20 league by 2021, with goals to "engage existing fans and grow new ones to support the bullish vision this Board has for cricket in the US", and "support the sustainable development of cricketing infrastructure across the United States" (noting that Central Broward Regional Park was the only ICC-certified cricket ground in the country).[7] In January 2019, USA Cricket was officially approved by the ICC as its 105th associate member.[8]
In May 2019, USA Cricket announced that it had accepted a bid by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) for a $1 billion investment in its proposed T20 league; ACE's partners include Satyan Gajwani and Vineet Jain of The Times Group, and Willow TV founders Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan. ACE will provide investments for the league (including developmental and professional circuits), facilities, and support of the U.S. national teams.[9]
During its inaugural annual general meeting in February 2020, USA Cricket announced plans to launch its franchise-based T20 league Major League Cricket in 2021, stage the inaugural season of its development league Minor League Cricket in 2020, back proposals for cricket to be staged at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and pursue bids to host a future ICC tournament in the country between 2023 and 2031. It was also stated that USA Cricket may attempt to pursue full member status with the ICC.[10]
In October 2020, USA Cricket unveiled a "foundational plan" for 2020–23, including plans to promote youth and women's cricket, primarily focus on T20 (including the launch of Major League Cricket in 2022, delayed from 2021 due to COVID-19), and partner with Cricket West Indies on bids to host ICC events in the United States. The organization plans to initially target its activities towards markets where there is "already significant interest in and passion for the sport". USA Cricket also set long-term goals to reach ICC full member status by 2030.[11][12] It aimed to qualify for the 2022 Under-19 Cricket World Cup (however, all qualification tournaments were cancelled due to COVID-19, and Canada thus qualified automatically based on previous performance),[13] and to "develop a clear and balanced long-term international playing calendar for our national teams that includes more content, played more frequently against competitive opposition."[14]
In November 2020, USA Cricket announced that ACE had leased AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas (which previously operated as the home of the recently folded Texas AirHogs baseball team), with plans to redevelop it as a cricket-specific stadium and as home field of a Texas-based franchise in Major League Cricket.[15][16]
In November 2021, the ICC announced that Cricket West Indies and USA Cricket would co-host the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, with matches expected to be played in both regions.[17]
Financial issues
In March 2021, two USA Cricket board members filed a lawsuit against CEO Iain Higgins and five other board members, alleging irregularities in its election process, including a referendum to immediately grant voting rights to members rather than requiring that they be members for 12 months (allegedly expanding the voting base to over 20,000 eligible members) that was implemented despite not meeting the required supermajority, and the organization having indefinitely delayed annual elections that were required to occur at the end of November. The election continued to be delayed as of February2022[update].[18][19] On November 15, 2021, it was reported that Higgins had stepped down as CEO, amid internal issues within the organization; the position remained vacant.[20][21] The lawsuit was settled in May 2022, after board chairman Paraag Marathe announced his resignation, which allowed the elections to move forward and begin on July 8, 2022.[22] Separately, ex-CEO Iain Higgins was given $300,000 as part of an agreement to avoid more legal action against USAC.[23]
On October 3, 2022, it was reported that USA Cricket was seriously in debt, had failed to file annual financial reports, and failed to host an annual general meeting in 2020, leading the ICC to suspend funding payments. The curtailment of Ireland's December 2021 series against the United States due to COVID-19 outbreaks (causing only the T20 matches to be played) was reported to have resulted in six-figure losses for the sanctioning body.[24][25]
It was concurrently reported that USA Cricket had been removed as an administrative co-host of the 2024 T20 World Cup due to these issues, but that Cricket West Indies would still host tournament matches in the United States.[25] Ahead of the next annual general meeting on October 9, Srinivasan stated that ACE was concerned over USA Cricket's mounting debt, and concerns that players and board members were not being paid despite ACE's agreements and funding.[24]
ACE had chosen not to fully back the Ireland series due to cost concerns related to its scheduling and COVID-19 protocols. The series, which cost $400,000 to host, was not part of USA Cricket's budget for 2021.[20] Srinivasan explained that USAC "came in far, far below even what we thought they would come short of", and "the way this arrangement is meant to work is they find a Full Member or multiple Full Members to come and we would fund all of that. The exposure is meant to be ours and then we would monetize it, commercialize it and if there is a loss, that's our loss to bear. This was unique in the sense that we were not willing to do it given all the constraints. So we said if this is something you still want to go ahead, you do all of it. We'll front you the cash to pull it off, but you keep all the revenue. But the exposure is also yours."[24]
On October 10 during the AGM, USA Cricket's new treasurer Kuljit Singh-Nijjar issued a report stating that it had amassed $650,000 in debt by the end of 2021, citing spending higher than budgeted projections, nearly $800,000 in "administrative expenses", and falling short of its projection of $1.1 million in sponsorship revenue. Due to these issues, the 2022 USA Cricket senior men's and junior national championships were cancelled. Interim board chairman Atul Rai stated that it had resolved its outstanding payments to the ICC, and was also evaluating candidates for its new CEO.[20] On October 21, Vinay Bhimjiani was appointed as the new CEO of USA Cricket.[26] Later that week, USAC's Nominating and Governance Committee (NGC) announced that they were accepting applications for 3 independent directors.[27]
USA Cricket, in cobordance with the NGC, then went on to announce their postponed 2021 elections on November 19, 2022. In their announcement, they released their member eligibility lists and also separately announced calls for 3 board directors.[28][29]
In January 2023, USAC announced Patricia Whittaker, David Haubert, and Pintoo Shah replacing the former Paraag Marathe, Rohan Sajdeh, and Catherine Carlson as independent board directors.[30] This sparked controversy as Whittaker served USA Cricket prior as a selector in 2021, going against USAC's constitution, stating that a person must not have held position in USAC, the ICC, or any national, local, or regional governing and administrative body within 3 years of the date of applicable election.[31]
Shortly thereafter, an email co-signed by 21 people was sent to USA Cricket challenging the constitutionality of the NGC. The email protested and pointed out many instances of USAC constitution violations ahead of the 2021 USAC elections, threatening legal action if the problems weren't resolved.[32] Following the email, USAC excluded email co-signers Sushil Nadkarni, Ajay Jhamb, and others from their final candidates and voter list for the 2021 elections. Additionally, USAC also approved many ineligible candidates for the elections, sparking further controversy.[33][34]
Following many email co-signers' exclusion from the 2021 elections and USAC's inability to overhaul and "roll back any past improper actions" of the NGC, Nadkarni and Jhamb filed a joint-lawsuit against USA Cricket and members of the NGC. The lawsuit alleged "numerous" violations of USA Cricket's constitution by the NGC and requested that USA Cricket be forced to deconstruct its NGC, which they allege was formed unconstitutionally. The lawsuit additionally points out other numerous unconstitutional actions, including the appointment of Whittaker as an independent director, a lack of election candidates, and the approval of many ineligible election candidates and voters.[35] As a result, a court hearing was scheduled for the third week of February. The court then imposed a restraining order on the 2021 elections which were set to be held on February 6.[36][37]
Domestic tournaments
The USAC sponsor and sanction the following national-level tournaments:[38]
The United States men's national cricket team is the team that represents the United States in international cricket. The team was formerly organized by the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), which became an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1965. In June 2017, the USACA was expelled by the ICC due to governance and financing issues, with the U.S. team being temporarily overseen by ICC Americas until a new sanctioning body was established. In January 2019, associate membership was officially granted to USA Cricket.
The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), headquartered at Miami Beach, was the national governing body for all cricket in the United States, until it was replaced by USA Cricket in 2019. The board was formed in 1965.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is a biennial T20 cricket tournament, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) every 2 years since its inauguration in 2007 with the exception of 2011, 2018 and 2020. This event was rebranded from ICC World Twenty20 to ICC Men's T20 World Cup in November 2018. India are the current champions and also the joint most successful side with West Indies and England after winning their 2nd title in the 2024 Tournament.
Grand Prairie Stadium is a cricket ground and former ballpark in Grand Prairie, Texas. Opened in May 2008, it served as the home stadium of the Texas AirHogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball from 2008 through 2019, and of the USL League Two soccer team Texas United from 2017 to 2019.
Cricket in the United States is a sport played at the amateur, club, intercollegiate and international competition levels with little popularity, with 200,000 players across the country. Major League Cricket is the highest level of domestic T20 cricket currently played in America, with T20 being the format of the game that much of the recent growth in American cricket is occurring in.
Jasdeep "Jessy" Singh is an American cricketer who made his debut for the U.S. national side in May 2015. He is a right-arm medium-pace bowler who bats right-handed.
Muhammad Ahsan Ali Khan is an American professional cricketer. He has played for the United States national cricket team since 2016 as a right-arm fast bowler. He has also played franchise Twenty20 cricket in the West Indies, Pakistan, India and the United Arab Emirates.
Nisarg Patel is an Indian-born cricketer who plays for the United States national cricket team as a left-arm orthodox spin bowler.
The New England Eagles are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that competes in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in Boston. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket.
Major League Cricket (MLC), also known as Cognizant Major League Cricket for sponsorship reasons, is a professional Twenty20 cricket league that is played in the United States. Operated by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) and sanctioned by USA Cricket, it began play on July 13, 2023, with six teams representing major US cities under a single-entity model. The first season took place over three weeks at Grand Prairie Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas, and Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina, concluding on July 30, 2023. In 2021, the development league for MLC, Minor League Cricket (MiLC), completed its inaugural season, which was contested by 27 franchise-based teams.
Minor League Cricket is an American Twenty20 cricket developmental league for Major League Cricket which completed its first season in 2021, after it was delayed from a mid-to-late 2020 start due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It consists of 26 teams from four regions. The league began its regional draft process in late-August 2020, and a series of exhibition games in September 2020. The draft for the league began on June 4, 2021. The Strikers won the inaugural finals against the New Jersey Stallions by six wickets, with the Thunderbolts winning the 2022 finals against the Atlanta Fire by ten runs.
The Seattle Thunderbolts are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in Seattle, Washington. It was formed in 2021 as part of 3 new teams to compete in Minor League Cricket. The franchise is owned by Seattle Sports LLC, as part of its cricket development program, owned by Phani Chitneni, Vijay Beniwal, and Salman Taj.
The Silicon Valley Strikers are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in Silicon Valley, California. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket. The franchise is owned by Stanford Strikers LLC.
The Los Angeles Lashings are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team from Los Angeles that competes in Minor League Cricket (MiLC) and other T20 Cricket tournaments across the USA. Los Angeles Lashings was named in 2020 as part of the 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket USA. The franchise is co-owned by Abhimanyu Rajp and Deepak Gosain.
The Baltimore Royals are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in Baltimore, Maryland. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket. The franchise is currently owned by Rajit Passey.
The San Diego Surf Riders are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team based in San Diego, California, that competes in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team's home ground is Canyonside Park, located in the community of Rancho Peñasquitos. The Surf Riders began play in the 2021 season.
The Golden State Grizzlies are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in Sacramento, California. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket. The franchise is owned by ACE.
The Lone Star Athletics are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in Houston, Texas. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket. The franchise is owned by Kuldeep Patel and Sakhi Muhammad.
The Chicago Kingsmen are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in Chicago, Illinois. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket. The franchise was owned by Iftekhar Shareef until the team's acquisition by Fawad Sarwar of the Kingsmen Global Sports Group. The franchise is currently run by Salman Abbasi and Mohammad Iqra Farooqui, with Khurram Syed also associated.
The Chicago Catchers were an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that competed in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team was based in Chicago, Illinois. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket. The franchise was owned by the Cricket Management Group, LLC.
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