USA Cricket (USAC) is embroiled in yet another legal dispute as three former directors terminated by the Board last December – Patricia Whittaker, Kuljit-Singh Nijjar, and Arjun Rao Gona – and joined by current director Atul Rai, have filed a lawsuit against the organization as an entity and six sitting directors individually, alleging wrongful termination, governance failures, and retaliation.
They plaintiffs seek not only their own restoration and the halting of the ongoing elections being held to replace them, they also seek the removal of all six individual defendants from the board as well as a five-year ban on serving in the organization. Those six defendants are: Anj Balusu, David Haubert, Pintoo Shah, Nadia Gruny, Srini Salver, and Chair Venu Pisike.
This lawsuit, filed in Colorado where USAC is incorporated, follows a series of events dating back to July 2024, when these plaintiff directors raised concerns about corruption and misconduct within USA Cricket in a letter addressed to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
With USA Cricket already on notice by the ICC and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for its governance deficiencies, and with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, this lawsuit leaves USAC in a precarious position.
Background: whistleblower allegations and ICC involvement
In March 2024, only months after the LA Olympic Committee and the IOC confirmed cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics, the USOPC issued a stern warning and rebuke of USAC in a letter to Pisike, putting it on notice that its aspiration of being recognized as the National Governing Body for the sport of cricket was in jeopardy.
Subsequently, the ICC a similar warning message to USAC later that month, and in July 2024 formally put USAC on notice. In the words of then-CEO Geoff Allardice:
“USOPC have stated if USAC do not achieve NGB certification, they will be required to commence a process to recognise an alternate NGB for cricket, which could put USAC in breach of ICC Membership Criteria to be “recognized by the ICC (at its absolute discretion) as the primary governing body responsible for the administration, management and development of cricket (men’s and women’s) in its country.”
In July 2024, four then-serving directors of USA Cricket—Patricia Whittaker, Kuljit-Singh Nijjar, Arjun Rao Gona, and (still sitting director) Atul Rai—submitted a formal letter to the ICC, detailing a series of allegations against USAC. The letter accused USAC’s leadership, specifically board members Anj Balusu, David Haubert, Pintoo Shah, Nadia Gruny, Venu Pisike, and Srini Salver, of financial mismanagement, ethical and conflict of interest violations, and harassment of board members who attempted to uphold transparency. The directors also alleged that USA Cricket’s leadership had engaged in election fraud and engineering.
The ICC was urged to intervene, with the directors expressing fears that USAC was failing in its fiduciary responsibilities. However, instead of initiating corrective measures, USAC leadership allegedly retaliated against the whistleblowers.
Retaliatory dismissals and new lawsuit
On February 15 of this year, USA Cricket announced that three of directors who had signed the ICC letter – Whittaker, Nijjar, and Rao Gona—were removed from their positions, and also laid out the process for the elections to fill their seats. The member audit was supposed to be completed by March 10, with voting meant to be completed by March 31.
The affected individuals, and plaintiffs in the suit, characterize their removals as an act of retribution. They allege the removals were reportedly orchestrated by Pisika in conjunction with the others, which the lawsuit describes as an attempt to consolidate power and suppressing transparency within the organization.
The lawsuit, filed on March 3, 2025, in a Colorado court under Case Number: 2025CV30174, alleges that the board’s actions were not only retaliatory but also in violation of governance policies and legal statutes governing nonprofit organizations. The plaintiffs claim that their removals were unlawful and that USA Cricket’s leadership engaged in a deliberate effort to retaliate for their dissent.
Key allegations in lawsuit
The complaint includes a range of allegations against USA Cricket, including:
- Wrongful termination: The plaintiffs argue that their dismissals were executed without just cause and in direct retaliation for their whistleblowing activities. They contend that their removal violated USA Cricket’s bylaws and due process standards.
- Breach of fiduciary duty: The lawsuit alleges that USA Cricket’s leadership, including Anj Balusu, David Haubert, Pintoo Shah, Nadia Gruny, Venu Pisike, and Srini Salver, engaged in financial mismanagement, failed to maintain financial transparency, and made decisions that contravened governance norms.
- Retaliation and harassment: The complaint details instances where directors who raised concerns were subjected to intimidation tactics, including exclusion from key decision-making processes, public disparagement, and undue pressure to resign.
- Failure to uphold proper governance structures: The plaintiffs claim that USA Cricket’s decision-making processes were compromised by conflicts of interest, lack of adherence to its own bylaws, and a deliberate attempt to consolidate power among a select few board members.
- Failure to conduct fair elections: The lawsuit argues that USA Cricket repeatedly manipulated electoral processes to install board members who would support the leadership’s agenda, rather than ensuring fair representation of stakeholders.
Potential consequences for USA Cricket
This lawsuit adds to the turbulence surrounding USA Cricket, which has faced multiple governance crises and lawsuits in recent years. Of recent note:
- In 2023, ex-Director Sushil Nadkarni and member Ajay Jhamb brought suit against USAC, which was dismissed
- In 2021, Pisike and Salver brought a suit against five other directors, which was also dismissed
The timing of the current suit is particularly consequential, given the ongoing elections, the precarious position of USAC, and the sport’s growing presence in North America, highlighted by the success of Major League Cricket (MLC) and cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The legal battle could have significant repercussions for the organization, including:
- Possible ICC intervention: The global cricket body could step in to investigate governance failures and impose sanctions on USA Cricket.
- Further scrutiny from stakeholders: Sponsors, investors, and partners may hesitate to engage with an organization facing serious governance allegations.
- Potential leadership changes: If the plaintiffs prevail, the court may order reinstatements, leadership restructuring, or independent oversight measures.
- Financial penalties: The lawsuit could result in financial damages being awarded to the plaintiffs, further straining USA Cricket’s resources.
Moreover, if the allegations of financial mismanagement are substantiated, USA Cricket could face legal consequences beyond this civil lawsuit, including potential regulatory investigations into its handling of funds.
Conclusion
As the case unfolds, the cricketing community in the US and beyond will be watching closely, especially with the Olympics on the horizon, and USAC’s aspiration to be cricket’s National Governing Body now more seriously at serious risk.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
