ICC report brands USACA 'unprofessional and not trustworthy', says faced objection to collecting information

Dave Richardson headed the ICC group set up to investigate the state of affairs at USACA

Just a few days after the ICC suspended the USA Cricket Association citing “significant concerns about governance, finance, reputation and cricketing activities”, ESPNcricinfo has gained access to a report penned by the review group set up to investigate cricketing affairs in the country.

According to the leaked 40-page document, the USACA has been branded “unprofessional and not trustworthy.” The report also reveals that the investigation team was offered “resistance” to information, particularly with regards to USACA’s financial and bookkeeping accounts.

ICC established the task force in April 2015 under the leadership of ICC chief executive Dave Richardson to “meet relevant stakeholders in USA Cricket and to prepare a comprehensive report.” The move followed USACA’s failure to comply with the recommendations made by the governing body in January that year.

The USACA has been engulfed in controversies, with issues related to elections already leading to suspension twice, once in 2005 and later in 2007. The growth of a rival cricket board in American Cricket Association (ACA) has also led to a division among the member states.

The findings of the investigation were presented at the ICC Annual Conference on June 26 at Barbados, and USACA was suspended with immediate effect following a unanimous vote by the ICC board. Dave Richardson had said at the time – “The comprehensive report did not make for very pretty reading. “

Some of the major details of the report, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, are:

USACA’s affiliate members account to only 20-25% of the total cricket leagues in the country

The ICC review group’s request to have access to contacts of member associations were not heeded by the USACA board, who instead tried to prevent them from corresponding with the ICC, citing certain issues were to be resolved. As a result, only 40% of the USACA leagues responded to the ICC survey, compared to ACA’s 85%.

Election irregularities & ghost leagues

Allegations of fraud were raised in connection with the with election to the executive board held in March 2015.The report states that some leagues not meeting the membership rights were allowed to vote and specifically names 11 leagues which exist “just on paper.”

Cover up of financial dealings

The requests made by ICC chief financial officer Faisal Hasnain regarding the board’s accounts were not met with meaningful replies. Specifically, the USACA treasurer failed to provide supporting documents or bank details to prove that the $2,00,000 loan granted by the ICC in June 2013 was not misused. Question marks also remain over payments pending to investors in Cricket Holdings America.