USA Cricket (USAC) is once again facing legal action as director Atul Rai, along with former directors Kuljit Nijjar, Arjun Gona, and Patricia Whittaker, have filed a lawsuit against the organization and its current directors. The lawsuit, submitted in Boulder County, Colorado, alleges governance misconduct.
Key accusations include manipulation of the membership registration system ahead of elections to sway results by disenfranchising voters. The lawsuit also points to USAC’s failure to hold elections after the terms of Srini Salver and Nadia Gruny expired, and non-compliance with US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) guidelines regarding athlete representation in governance.
This legal challenge is a significant setback for USA Cricket, which has been under scrutiny since the ICC issued a suspension notice in July of last year. The ICC demanded improvements in governance within a year to prevent the revocation of USAC’s membership. The USOPC has also criticized USAC for being dysfunctional and distracted by internal conflicts, warning that USAC’s status as the national governing body for the LA Olympics could be at risk if these issues persist. Such a scenario could lead to USAC’s expulsion from the ICC.
The lawsuit follows the termination of Nijjar, Whittaker, and Gona on February 15, after their initial suspension in July 2024. Their suspension reportedly stemmed from a letter they sent to the ICC detailing alleged harassment and corruption within USA Cricket. Following these terminations, USAC announced elections to replace Nijjar and Gona and sought a replacement for Whittaker’s independent director position.
The plaintiffs are seeking the removal of all defendant directors from the USAC board and the reinstatement of Nijjar, Gona, and Whittaker. They also aim to invalidate the upcoming director elections.
