In a key step towards cricket’s seamless involvement in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the ICC has set out the option of the resignation of the present USA Cricket Board. This is part of a larger plan meant to guide USA Cricket (USAC) towards recognition as a National Governing Body (NGB) by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), a prerequisite for Olympic inclusion.
Why the ICC’s Intervention Is Important for USA Cricket
In response to cricket’s induction in the LA28 Olympic Games, the ICC and USOPC have stepped up their actions to ensure that the USA Cricket Board abides by governance and eligibility standards. The absence of NGB status now jeopardizes the USA’s opportunity to participate in the event they are co-hosting.
In a July 10 letter to USAC, ICC general counsel Jonathan Hall presented a six-step roadmap developed by the ICC’s Normalisation Committee in collaboration with USOPC officials. The roadmap seeks to regain integrity, compliance, and functioning governance in USAC, ultimately toward Olympic qualification.
The Roadmap to Reform: What the ICC Proposed
The most dramatic and initial step of the ICC’s roadmap is the resignation of all current members of the USA Cricket Board, including Chair Venu Pisike and CEO Johnathan Atkeison. They should be replaced with three new independent directors, among whom there must be at least a woman, as required by USOPC’s diversity policy.
Upon being appointed, the new directors, chosen together by ICC and USOPC, would spearhead governance reform and start the process of applying for NGB certification.
Read More
Points of emphasis in the ICC’s Roadmap:
Deemed removal of all existing USAC board members
Required a two-year cooling-off period for departing board members before they can stand for election again
Read More
Appointing three new independent directors, one of them a female
USOPC observer to advise the new board on compliance and governance
Complete review and amendment of the USA Cricket constitution
Commence formal process for NGB designation following induction of new leadership
USOPC: No Certification Without Board Overhaul
A June 30 email from USOPC official David Patterson said the USA Cricket Board cannot gain NGB status unless its leadership is changed. Patterson was blunt in asserting that a leadership reset was needed, noting that the present board “has not formed a functional unit.”
We don’t envision a situation where we would be opening the certification window for the sport of cricket without a new entrant or change in board leadership,” Patterson said.
He went on to state that reconfiguring the board alone is not sufficient — USA Cricket’s culture and operational standards also need to change. “Ending old habits will take time and space,” he said, proposing a long-term shift towards sustainability and openness.
USA Cricket Board Resists ICC Proposal
In spite of growing pressure, the USA Cricket Board has shown no inclination to step down, as acknowledged during a July 13 board meeting and reaffirmed by Chair Venu Pisike in meetings with the ICC in Singapore.
Pisike indicated that the actions in the ICC’s July 10 email were “not final directives” but also exploratory alternatives. He asserted there are several plausible avenues leading to NGB status and contended that board substitution will not automatically solve governance problems.
“We previously indicated our grounds in earlier meetings in April and June. The roadmap is one of several options,” Pisike said.
He also emphasized that internal board rivalries, not specific positions, were at the heart of the issue.
What’s at Stake for Cricket in the U.S.?
With cricket now included in the LA28 Olympic Games, the governance structure of the USA Cricket Board must adhere to Olympic standards. Not meeting these standards could result in the USA not being allowed to field teams in both men’s and women’s divisions, even though it is the host country.
The ICC and USOPC collaboration on this matter signals the seriousness with which the issue is being viewed. The final ruling is likely to be discussed in the ICC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 20 in Singapore, where USA Cricket’s eligibility is an agenda item.
Final Thoughts: ICC vs USA Cricket Board – A Crossroads Moment
This showdown between the USA Cricket Board and the ICC is a turning point not only for the sport of America but for cricket’s expansion around the world through the Olympics. The plan laid out by the ICC can lead to better governance, greater credibility, and Olympic inclusion if USAC reforms.
ALSO READ: SUR vs MID: Will Jacks, Chris Jordan Guide Surrey Win In Vitality Blast Thriller
