USA Cricket has officially ended its 50-year partnership with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the group behind Major League Cricket (MLC). The dramatic decision came after a tense three-hour board meeting, reported Cricbuzz.
The move, supported by Chairman Venu Pisike and a group of directors, has left USA Cricket in a financial and operational crisis just months before the World Cup. Sources say the organisation could run out of money within weeks without ACE’s regular financial support.
Why the Deal Fell Apart
The partnership, signed in 2019, gave ACE exclusive rights to run MLC and develop cricket infrastructure in the US. Since then, ACE has pumped over $10 million into the sport, covering player salaries, operations, and sanction fees.
However, USA Cricket raised concerns over management, finances, and infrastructure delays. In June, the board sent ACE a termination warning, citing breaches of contract. ACE responded in July, denying most claims and highlighting that it had already built a world-class facility in Grand Prairie—good enough for the ICC to host matches in 2024.
Despite this, USA Cricket moved ahead with the termination, a step some legal advisors have called “reckless” and unlikely to survive arbitration.
World Cup Preparations at Risk
The fallout has thrown upcoming World Cup 2025 plans into doubt. A $700,000 preparation budget, along with venue access in Dallas and Morrisville for men’s, women’s, and junior teams, is now uncertain. Scheduled matches against West Indies A and the West Indies Women’s team in October also hang in the balance.
With ACE out of the picture, USA Cricket now faces the dual challenge of stabilising its finances and ensuring the national teams are ready for one of the biggest cricketing events in its history.