SCCA President Files Lawsuit Against USA Cricket

Los Angeles, CA – Atul Rai, the current President of the Southern California Cricket Association (SCCA), former President of the now-defunct USACA, former interim Chairman of the Board of USA Cricket, former Minor League Cricket USA Governance Chair, and a current Board Member of USA Cricket has filed a lawsuit against USA Cricket, alleging misgovernance, election manipulation, and unconstitutional removals of directors.

The lawsuit, filed alongside suspended directors Patricia Whittaker, Kuljit Nijjar, and Arjun Gona, seeks the removal of USA Cricket board members, including Venu Pisike, Srini Salver, Anj Balusu, David Haubert, Pintoo Shah, and Nadia Gruny.

USACA (United States of America Cricket Association) – A Leadership Failure

Atul Rai once served as President of USACA (2001 – 2003), the former governing body of cricket in the USA. USACA lost ICC recognition in 2017 due to governance failures, financial mismanagement, and lack of development. ICC formally expelled USACA, citing “persistent governance failures, lack of cricket development, and non-compliance with ICC membership criteria.” The collapse of USACA led to the formation of USA Cricket as a replacement governing body.

USA Cricket – From Board Member to Lawsuit

After USACA’s collapse, Rai, once a USACA President, joined the USA Cricket Board in 2018. In 2022, he was appointed Interim Chairman of USA Cricket and ousted soon after fallouts within the board.

“For professional cricket to be sustainable in the long term, domestic cricket needs to be strong! A magnificent structure needs a strong foundation for it to last!” – Atul Rai, USA Cricketers

However, now in 2025, Rai, currently serving on the board and up for re-election in 2025, is now suing USA Cricket—the very organization that replaced USACA, both of which he has headed. This raises questions about his involvement in governing bodies that later collapse into controversy.

SCCA – President Multiple Times, Yet No Grassroots Progress

Rai has served as President of SCCA multiple times (4th round currently) owing to SCCA’s bylaws, which do not impose a limit on the number of terms an individual can serve. While the rules state that an executive cannot hold the same position for more than four consecutive years (two terms), they allow re-election after a “cool-off” period. This system has effectively enabled the same alliances and power structures to resurface repeatedly, maintaining control over the organization rather than fostering new leadership or progressive change.

Source: SCCA Bylaws (2018 Copy) : “An Officer may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in one office. After two terms, there shall be a minimum of two years waiting period before he can rerun for the same Officer position.”

SCCA, once a partner to both USA Cricket and ACE was stripted of its membership from USA Cricket in 2023 for non payment of membership dues. SCCA and ACE PARTNERSHIP, called a win-win by then President of SCCA Mihir Gandhi in 2020 (Former SCCA President Mihir G. is now the Treasurer of SCCA in 2025),  a proposal submitted to the SCCA Exec team by then SCCA President Atul Rai 2017-18. Signed and approved in 2019 by SCCA BOD. This agreement come to a halt post Rai’s fall-out with ACE (American Cricket Enterprises) folks in 2020-21. Since then, SCCA leadership has directly restricted LAC youth and MiLC cricket development  —  now blocking access to resources, fields, and time slots. Locking up Crease Markers 🤯, not allowing permitted groups to use or rent SCCA equipment (President Pradeep Patel), as well as not allowing for human resources to work across organizations (ex: Groundsman).

Los Angeles, once a cricket powerhouse, currently doesn’t have any players in the USA Cricket Men’s National Team or emerging talent at the youth level, barring a few trying their best due to their dedicated parents. A total of ZERO local SCCA youth made it to the nationals in 2023, held in LA. This is happening under the leadership watch of SoCal Local administrators such as Vinay Kulkarni (SCCA BOD Member, local recreational player and a parent of a youth within the SCCA; more to be added on this hero of our community), Vinay is the USA Cricket Los Angeles Hub Coordinator 2022-2024, and the current USA Cricket BOD rep is: Atul Rai, Los Angeles and SoCal has lost it’s value significantly; under their watch region has been joined with Northern California, Portland, and Seattle, along with long time partners Arizona, and San Diego to form one (1) team representing the entire WEST COAST in USA Nationals with limited opportunities for player growth. SCCA and Los Angeles Minor League players have also found themself at a disadvantage with this shi(f)t and related power struggle happening in the region. 

We, recently, reported that almost all socal cricketers and leagues have been deemed ineligible for voting in the upcoming 2025 elections for non payment of USA Membership dues; a result of the ongoing issues at the leadership level. In 2023, SCCA President Pradeep Patel requested a discounted rate based on its large player base, but USA Cricket declined and ruled SCCA ineligible for 2023. This decision raises important questions: why would one nonprofit seek a discount from another for cricket membership, and were the SCCA membership and general body informed of such a significant change in their status? Limiting a large segment of the cricket community’s voting power is concerning— and the election process itself is not considered a robust mechanism. Only time will reveal the true impact of these local decisions made by our SoCal leaders, particularly as this now-ineligible voting base was a key component of Atul Rai’s strategy for his re-election in 2025, unless new alliances are formed.

Over the past five years, the SCCA executive committee has charged exorbitant fees for field rentals—ranging from $600 to $1,000 per game for a T20 match—resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in revenue that, in 2024, culminated in an $8,400 invoice paid by LAC for MiLC matches; however, these funds have not been reinvested into grassroots cricket programs or used to renew membership with our parent body, likely due to internal rifts, leading MiLC Los Angeles Lashings to discontinue further spending with SCCA and request a broader player pool from MiLC for the LA team—a decision that, while potentially challenging for the local cricket community, also opens the door for constructive dialogue and positive changes moving forward. Expect the make up of the LA team, espicialy the youth, to be very different come 2025 season due to these challenges from local cricket admins.

In an interesting twist, the City of Los Angeles’ Parks and Recreation department has encouraged Los Angeles Cricket to work directly with City Planning for grounds. Since SCCA leadership has not been willing to help barring field rentals for profit (not allowed by City Laws) when possible, this hospitable approach by SCCA led to LAC being awarded a permit for Marder Field in 2024 directly from LA Parks and Rec, along with essential manpower and resources—such as groundsmen, pitch rollers, and equipment. It’s also worth noting that Los Angeles Cricket has, on several occasions, generously provided soil for the pitches to SCCA at no cost.

Minor League Cricket (mIlc) – From Founding Member to OPPONENT

Rai was the inaugural chairman of the MiLC Governing Council, advocating for local leagues to work with MiLC. He is now more focused on actioing the exact opposite in Los Angeles. MiLC Team Los Angeles Lashings have been crying foul for a while on this ever changing stance of local SoCal Cricket leadership.

“I was the chair of the Governing Council during the formation of the Minor League. My understanding is that Minor League teams are to work closely with the local cricket leagues and the players to facilitate a smooth operation with MiLC/ACE providing the funding for infrastructure development and other major expenses. Unfortunately, that has not been the case, and there is a disconnect between the local leagues and Minor League teams. The team owners have been heavily burdened financially and operationally!” – Atul Rai, USA Cricketers

Now, owing to his fallout with ACE (American Cricket Enterprises), he has been influential in restricting Los Angeles MiLC teams and partnered organizations from accessing fields, despite being part of the initial leadership that introduced the league. Source: USA Cricketers Interview

Case Overview

Court & Venue: Boulder County District Court, Colorado

Filing Date & ID: March 3, 2025; Filing ID: E3BB5C7EDB8CB

Parties Involved: Plaintiffs: BK Atul Rai, Patricia Whittaker, Kuljit-Singh Nijjar, and Arjun Rao Oona – filing in both their individual capacities and derivatively on behalf of USA Cricket, Inc. (a Colorado nonprofit corporation). Defendants: USA Cricket directors Venu Pisike, Anj Balusu, David Haubert, Pintoo Shah, Nadia Oruny, and Srini Salver, plus USA Cricket, Inc.

Key Claims and Allegations

Breach of Fiduciary and Statutory Duties: Plaintiffs allege that the defendant directors abused their positions by failing to act in the best interests of USA Cricket. They claim the directors violated both common law fiduciary duties and statutory duties under the Colorado Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act by engaging in actions that harmed the organization’s mission.

Judicial Removal of Directors: Plaintiffs seek the removal of the defendant directors, arguing that their conduct — including manipulation of the membership registration system, improper removal of directors, and conflict of interest (especially involving Defendant Pisike) — has compromised USA Cricket’s governance. They contend that these actions jeopardize USA Cricket’s efforts to qualify as the National Governing Body for cricket in the U.S. and to maintain membership in the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Declaratory Judgment: The complaint asks the court to declare that the removal of certain directors (such as Patricia Whittaker, Nijjar, and Oona) was done in violation of USA Cricket’s Constitution and Colorado law, rendering those removals null and void.

Background and Context

Purpose of USA Cricket: USA Cricket was established in 2017 with the goal of positioning itself as the candidate for the National Governing Body (NGB) for cricket in the United States—a role that became especially significant after cricket was added to the LA 2028 Olympic Games program.

Governance Concerns: The organization has been under scrutiny by both the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the ICC for failing to meet the rigorous governance standards required for NGB certification. Plaintiffs argue that the defendant directors’ actions — including unauthorized closures of membership registration portals, retroactive voiding of memberships, and bypassing proper removal procedures — have damaged USA Cricket’s standing and its ability to attain NGB certification.

Conflict of Interest: A significant concern is raised over Defendant Pisike’s conduct. Not only did he file complaints against other directors, but he also managed board processes without recusal — allegedly using his personal resources to record meetings and suppress dissent, thereby deepening the governance crisis.

Relief Sought

Removal of Defendant Directors: Plaintiffs request that the court order the immediate removal of the defendant directors and bar them from holding any office within USA Cricket for five years.

Monetary Damages and Injunctive Relief: They seek damages (to be determined at trial) along with injunctive and declaratory relief to correct the governance issues and restore USA Cricket’s path to certification as an NGB.

Trial by Jury: The complaint concludes with a demand for a trial by jury on all issues that can be tried by jury.

This summary outlines the plaintiffs’ claims that mismanagement and conflicts of interest among USA Cricket’s directors have jeopardized the organization’s mission and legal standing, and it sets out the relief they seek to remedy these issues.

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