USA Cricket continues to tread on thin ice with another lawsuit

USA Cricket (USAC) has been sued by former directors Atul Rai, Kuljit Nijjar, Arjun Gona and Patricia Whittaker.

They are suing the governing body and its current directors: Venu Pisike, Srini Salver, Pintoo Shah, David Haubert, Nadia Gruny and Anj Balusu.

The lawsuit alleges governance misconduct, including manipulating the membership registration system to influence upcoming elections.

It also cites USAC's failure to hold elections after Salver and Gruny's terms expired and its non-conformity with USOPC guidelines in forming the Athlete Advisory Committee.

This lawsuit comes after the ICC suspended USAC in July 2022, demanding reforms to avoid losing its membership.

The USOPC has also criticized USAC for being "dysfunctional" and "distracted by infighting."

The USOPC warned that USAC may not be the automatic choice for the national governing body at the LA Olympics if these issues persist.

Nijjar, Whittaker and Gona were terminated on February 15 after being temporarily suspended in July 2022.

They were suspended following a letter discrediting Pisike and Salver over alleged misgovernance.

USAC announced individual director elections to replace Nijjar and Gona and is seeking a replacement for the female independent director position left vacant by Whittaker's termination.

The plaintiffs seek the removal of all defendant directors from the USAC board and the reinstatement of Nijjar, Gona and Whittaker. They also want the upcoming individual director elections voided.