"USAC board members face legal challenges ahead of Jay Shah’s visit, as internal conflicts intensify."
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📰 Overview

USA Cricket (USAC) faces intense scrutiny again as its legal troubles escalate just weeks before ICC Chairman Jay Shah’s visit. With both the ICC and USOPC monitoring closely, the organization must act quickly to avoid bigger consequences.

Last month, former board members Arjun Gona, Kuljit Nijjar, Patricia Whitaker, and sitting director Atul Rai served the cricket body with a new legal notice. They demand full reinstatement and the removal of the current leadership, including President Venu Pisike.

Moreover, the plaintiffs insist that only a court resolution will settle their grievances. As a result, USAC’s attempt to resolve the matter internally has failed to gain traction.

🔁 USAC Sparks Outrage by Selectively Reinstating Directors

In a controversial decision, USA Cricket reinstated Gona and Nijjar but refused to bring back Whitaker. This selective action ignited backlash, with critics questioning the board’s fairness and motives.

Rai pointed out that Whitaker’s actions were much less severe. In fact, she only wrote a letter to the ICC, something other current board members had also done. Therefore, excluding her appears politically driven rather than justified by the facts.

📣 Dallas Cricket League Blasts USAC’s Leadership

The Dallas Cricket League (DCL), home organization of Gona and Nijjar, issued a strong condemnation of the decision. They accused the leadership of unethical, discriminatory, and undemocratic behavior.

“Selective reinstatement shows USA Cricket’s leadership continues to fail in upholding transparency and fairness,” said DCL.

Furthermore, DCL highlighted that all three directors faced identical accusations. As a result, keeping Whitaker out only reinforced concerns about favoritism.

USA Cricket originally planned its board elections for January 2025. However, the ongoing lawsuits and disputes forced delays, creating further instability. As a result, both the ICC and USOPC expressed growing concerns about the organization’s governance standards.

⏳ USAC Scrambles to Meet USOPC’s May Deadline

USOPC set a strict deadline: the organization must establish a fully functional board by May to achieve recognition as the National Governing Body (NGB) for cricket. Otherwise, it risks losing its opportunity to govern cricket nationally.

Facing this pressure, USA Cricket must stabilize its leadership quickly to avoid more severe consequences from both USOPC and ICC.

🚨 Conclusion

With lawsuits mounting and confidence eroding, the cricket body stands on the brink of collapse. Jay Shah’s upcoming visit could either help rebuild trust—or expose deeper fractures. However, without swift reforms, USAC may soon face complete isolation from the cricket world.