USA Cricket (USAC) has ended its agreement with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the group behind Major League Cricket (MLC). The deal was signed in 2019 for 50 years. It gave ACE the rights to run a top T20 league in the US, manage commercial deals for national teams, and build cricket facilities. Since then, ACE has spent around USD 10 million on cricket in the country.
The decision was made in a board meeting on August 21. Chairman Venu Pisike and director David Haubert led the move. They were supported by Srini Salver, Anj Balusu, and Pintoo Shah. But other directors, including Nadia Gruny and Kuljit Nijjar, opposed it. Gruny has also questioned Pisike’s role as chairman under USAC rules.
USA Cricket’s Concerns over finances and legal risks
Experts have warned that the decision may not hold up in arbitration. USAC’s own lawyers advised against the move. One outside lawyer even called it “reckless.” CEO Johnathan Atkeison also raised alarms. He said USAC already has limited funds and could face bankruptcy without ACE’s payments. The board has been under ICC suspension since July 2024, which means ICC controls the money flow.
The conflict started in June 2025, when USAC accused ACE of breaking the contract. The claims included missing payments and failing to build a High Performance Center. But reports suggest ACE has been paying regularly. On the center, ACE pointed to the Grand Prairie stadium in Texas. The ICC approved it as a World Cup venue, and ACE said it was better than most Associate nations’ facilities.
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The fallout may affect the USA national teams. USAC and MLC had planned a USD 700,000 budget for upcoming matches against West Indies A and for women’s fixtures. These games were also meant to prepare players for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Now, those fixtures may not happen.
USAC says it still wants MLC to continue. But ACE is expected to fight the decision legally. The situation leaves US cricket in crisis, with governance issues, money problems, and uncertainty over the sport’s future.
