USA Cricket Board in Crisis: Emails Reveal Accusations of Deception and Governance Failures

Internal Emails Expose Conflict and Accusations of Dishonesty

A chain of internal USA Cricket (USAC) emails has revealed a board in open conflict, trading accusations of dishonesty and threatening each other with personal liability. The emails, reviewed by Cricbuzz, depict a board in disarray, with directors and staff uncertain about scheduled events and who is actually in charge.

Whiplash Decision-Making and Governance Failures

At the center of the dispute is USAC's decision-making around its agreement with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE). The board issued a notice terminating the ACE term sheet on August 21, only to suspend that termination and affirm the term sheet was "in full force and effect" in a subsequent letter. Several directors claim they were never informed of the decision.

Accusations of Deception and Gatekeeping

Director Nadia Gruny accused Chair Venu Pisike of withholding information and being dishonest about the board's actions. Another director, Atul Rai, asked Pisike to explain why they were misled about the board's decisions. Gruny also warned that restricting information about major organizational decisions may make individual directors liable.

Confusion Over ACE Agreement and Women's Program

Gruny sought urgent clarity on the U.S. women's T20I series against West Indies in October, citing overdue payments and reimbursements. Pisike told Gruny to consult USAC CEO Johnathan Atkeison first, dismissing reports of the rescission as "fake news."

Financial Uncertainty and Risk of Insolvency

The organization's cash runway is measured in weeks, making clarity on the ACE funding relationship decisive for national-team camps, series, and basic payables. Directors and staff are uncertain whether imminent events are "on," "off," or unfunded, and some are concerned about potential risk of financial insolvency without an infusion of funds.

Long History of Governance Issues

The dysfunction sits on top of a long history of governance issues, mirroring the prior governing body, USA Cricket Association (USACA), which was ultimately suspended and terminated by the ICC in 2017. The ICC served USAC a governance notice at its July 2024 AGM and gave a three-month deadline to implement reforms or risk suspension.

National Teams and Events at Risk

Without transparent resolutions, USAC risks derailing near-term camps and international series, particularly for the women's side, where communication gaps are already impacting athletes and staff. This would be particularly unfortunate given the recently strong performance of USA National teams, as well as the run-up to their feature in the 2026 World Cup.