USAC Board Debates Future Direction Amid Director Anj Balusu’s Exit

Following last week’s ICC suspension of USA Cricket (USAC), a significant segment of the American cricket community acted to remove League Director Anj Balusu. Cricbuzz has learned that six out of USAC’s nine member leagues—namely, Southern California Cricket Association, Northern California Cricket Association, Dallas Cricket League, Washington Cricket League, Oregon Cricket League, and New Jersey Softball Cricket League—signed a petition for his removal, which swiftly led to a recall vote.

This decision, which has been communicated to the ICC, is rooted in longstanding boardroom discord. Despite being granted a three-month probation to enact governance reforms and conduct free elections, the persistent instability at USAC failed to reassure the ICC. As previously reported by Cricbuzz, Balusu, along with other directors, stood against ICC Chairman Jay Shah’s call for a full board resignation during a July meeting in Los Angeles with USAC Chairman Venu Pisike.

The ousting highlights growing frustration among regional American leagues. With elections seemingly improbable after the ICC suspension, the leagues exercised their rights to remove Balusu, signaling their dissatisfaction with Pisike’s camp, of which Balusu was a member. Many within the community feel this group has negatively impacted USAC and the entire cricketing landscape. This action aligns with the ICC and USOPC’s repeated requests for all directors to step down and allow independent governance reforms.

The timing of Balusu’s removal is particularly critical. Cricbuzz understands Pisike is already working towards declaring bankruptcy, with a board meeting focused on this issue scheduled for September 30. Under U.S. law, if a nonprofit like USAC files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it is liquidated and ceases to exist. Balusu’s removal disrupts Pisike’s narrow 5-4 majority, creating a 4-4 deadlock that could stall crucial decisions, including the bankruptcy motion.

Sources indicate that USAC still has around USD 250,000 in its reserves, making the bankruptcy decision seem premature, especially since the ICC hasn’t yet provided guidelines for reinstating USAC’s membership. Some stakeholders see this move as an aggressive tactic to sway the ICC into negotiations on Pisike’s terms.

The implications for players are severe. The administrative disorder, compounded by the bankruptcy threat, risks leaving national players in a lurch just months before the Men’s U19 World Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup. Numerous top American cricketers have retainer contracts worth nearly USD 60,000 per year, allows them to focus solely on cricket. Bankruptcy could abruptly end these contracts, thrusting players into financial uncertainty at a critical time. Additionally, the dysfunction has already disturbed on-field preparations, as the USA has not faced a Full Member team in a T20I since hosting a landmark T20 World Cup over 15 months ago.

With the ICC’s suspension of USAC and leagues moving to recall a director from Pisike’s faction, there’s a growing consensus within the cricket community that the current board should heed the advice of both the ICC and the USOPC: resign collectively and pave the way for independent governance reforms.