Judge Removes All USAC Directors – USAC Board “Incapable”

A U.S. bankruptcy judge has removed the entire board of USA Cricket and ordered the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee, ending months of internal paralysis that left the sport suspended internationally and stalled its Olympic pathway.

Former Directors on the USA Cricket Board (pre-trustee appointment)

These individuals comprised the board that was removed when the judge appointed a Chapter 11 trustee:

1. Venu Pisike — Chairman of the Board

2. Anj Balusu — League Director

3. Atul Rai — Club Director

4. Srini (Srinivas) Salver — Male Player Director

5. Nadia Gruny — Female Player Director

6. David Haubert (or Hubert) — Independent Director

7. Pintoo Shah — Independent Director

8. Kuljit (Kuljeet) Singh Nijjar — Elected Director (remained active in board disputes)

9. Arjun Rao Gona — Elected Director (active in governance fallout)

In an order issued January 12, 2026, Michael E. Romero ruled that USA Cricket was incapable of reorganizing under its existing leadership, citing board deadlock, repeated missed deadlines, and failure to submit a bankruptcy reorganization plan.

The court revoked USA Cricket’s Subchapter V status and directed the U.S. Trustee’s Office to install a Chapter 11 trustee with full authority over governance and operations. Atul Rai, affiliated with the Santa Barbara Cricket Club and current President of the Southern California Cricket Association, is among the local administrators affected by Judge Romero’s court decision involving USA Cricket.

What the Ruling Does (Legal Explainer)

Why the judge stepped in “…USA Cricket was incapable of reorganizing under its existing leadership, citing board deadlock, management dysfunction…” (cricexec)

Subchapter V allows management to stay in control only if a debtor can reorganize quickly and cooperatively. USA Cricket failed that test. A 4–4 board deadlock prevented decisions, internal lawsuits, filings were missed, and no viable plan was submitted by the final deadline.

Once the court found “cause,” federal bankruptcy law required trustee appointment — the judge had no discretion to allow the board to continue.

What a Chapter 11 trustee means
The trustee replaces both the board and executive authority. Under Section 1106 of the Bankruptcy Code, the trustee now:

• Runs day-to-day operations

• Files and prosecutes a reorganization plan

• Negotiates with creditors and counterparties

• Implements governance reforms

• Acts as the sole representative to regulators

In practical terms: the board is gone, decision-making is centralized, and accountability is external.

Why This Unlocks ICC and Olympic Progress

Both the International Cricket Council and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee had conditioned engagement on credible, independent governance — something USA Cricket’s board failed to demonstrate.

Immediate effects of the trustee appointment:

• ICC funding previously withheld due to governance failures can now resume

• Direct trustee-to-ICC engagement replaces fractured board communication

• USOPC governance benchmarks become executable

This removes the single biggest obstacle to restoring international standing and Olympic credibility.

CEO Return and Operational Reset

USA Cricket CEO Jonathan Atkeison, previously furloughed during the funding freeze, is expected to return and report directly to the trustee. This restores professional continuity while removing board interference from day-to-day operations.

National team planning, domestic scheduling, and Olympic preparation can now move forward under unified authority.

Outstanding Issues: ACE Dispute

The ruling does not resolve USA Cricket’s dispute with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) following termination of their commercial agreement.

What it does change is leverage and clarity:

• Negotiations now run through the trustee

• Arbitration or settlement decisions are centralized

• Any future board will inherit a stabilized posture

The dispute is reset procedurally, not decided substantively.

LA28 Impact Map (Plain View)

Before the ruling

• ❌ Board deadlock

• ❌ ICC suspension and frozen funds

• ❌ USOPC warning status

• ❌ CEO sidelined

• ❌ Olympic pathway stalled

After the ruling

• ✅ Independent trustee governance

• ✅ ICC engagement reopens

• ✅ USOPC roadmap executable

• ✅ CEO operational continuity

• ✅ Olympic preparation back on timeline

Next mandatory steps

1. Trustee files reorganization plan

2. Independent directors appointed

3. Governance framework reset

4. Elections held under stability

5. Full ICC and USOPC compliance restored

Bottom Line

This is not a bailout — it’s a forced reset.

The court removed governance risk from the system. What follows depends on execution: credibility with regulators, disciplined restructuring, and a clean rebuild ahead of LA28.

For the first time in months, U.S. cricket is moving again — under supervision, with clarity, and on the clock.