Ben (left) and Tim (center) ICC representatives surrounded by members of Cricket Council USA at Town Hall Meeting.
The recent USA Town Hall Meeting held by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on August 29 in Chicago, was a huge success. There were some passionate moments, but no loud outbursts as anticipated by some stakeholders. Thanks to the fact that USA Cricket Association (USACA) personnel were absent from the day’s event. The ICC’s CEO Dave Richardson assured the group USACA was invited, but chose not to attend. Although things have changed, everything seems to remain the same.
Outside of the discussions held on moving cricket forward in the USA, the Town Hall meeting was an opportunity for stakeholders to brown nose, position themselves in the eyes of the ICC representatives, and to have themselves photographed with the ICC fellows.
Everyone spoke of what his/her group was doing to help develop cricket in the USA.
Cricket Council USA (CCUSA) – a Florida based sports and entertainment-management organization was present at the event. CCUSA expressed its disappointment to the ICC, that 100 stakeholders were invited to attend the Town Hall Meeting, and CCUSA was not one of them. CCUSA had to petition the ICC for an invitation, despite the fact that CCUSA has spent an average USD$300,000 per year, on cricket in the USA.
ICC’s CEO Dave Richardson explained, that at the end of the day USACA was still the recognized governing body for cricket in America. The culture however of having one governing body in a territory is under revision.
Groups such as the American Cricket Federation and CCUSA might be given a greater role in the governance and development of US cricket. It was noted that USACA remains suspended, and must comply with requests made by the ICC, no later than June 2016.
A local Advisory group appointed by the ICC was recently installed to engage the US cricket community on ways to develop strategies, governance and a structure designed to improve the playing standards of the sport in the USA.
I am convinced that no one is currently in charge of USA cricket, as we continue to move forward with every man for himself, and God for us all.
Mike Chambers,
President, US Cricket Hall of Fame and Board Member CCUSA
