Boardroom battle continues amid scrutiny from ICC and US Olympic Committee
USA Cricket’s internal conflict has intensified after two recently reinstated directors declined to pause their ongoing lawsuit against the organization—just weeks ahead of a planned visit by ICC Chair Jay Shah.
Kuljit Singh Nijjar and Arjun Gona, who were reinstated earlier this month after being removed last year without due process, have rejected a proposed compromise from board chair Venu Pisike that would have required them to halt their legal action.
The lawsuit, which also includes independent director Patricia Whittaker and former board member Atul Rai, seeks the removal of six current board members over alleged election interference, unconstitutional practices, and governance violations.
Whittaker’s exclusion from reinstatement questioned
Whittaker was not reinstated alongside Nijjar and Gona, a decision that has prompted sharp criticism. Her supporters argue that the charges against her were milder than those faced by the other two, and that her continued exclusion appears politically motivated.
“If you’re saying we need to follow governance protocols, therefore we are going to have these two people back then all three should have been back,” said Rai in an interview with Cricbuzz. “In her case, the complaint against her was much minor as against Nijjar or Gona. All she did was write a letter to the ICC.” Rai noted that Pisike and another director, Salver, had written similar letters without facing consequences.
Legal battle could affect Olympic recognition
The dispute comes at a critical moment. USA Cricket is still not recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) as the official national governing body for cricket. That recognition is vital for Olympic participation and access to federal funding ahead of the LA28 Games.
In a letter to the ICC last year, the plaintiffs outlined governance failures that they argued would disqualify USA Cricket from meeting USOPC standards. With three sitting board members now suing the rest of the board, concerns about the organization’s credibility have only grown.
Jay Shah’s visit heightens pressure
The ICC Chair is expected to visit the United States in the coming weeks, primarily to advance discussions around cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics and long-term growth in the region. But observers believe USA Cricket’s dysfunction will be an unavoidable topic during his visit.
Unless the board can resolve its internal legal disputes and demonstrate progress on governance reform, it risks further eroding its standing with both the ICC and USOPC—jeopardizing its role as cricket’s recognized authority in one of the sport’s most important emerging markets.
