USA Cricket’s decision to tear up its long-term commercial deal with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) has landed the national squad in awkward territory only 18 months out from a home T20 World Cup.
Key point first: without ACE’s cash and infrastructure, the men’s and women’s programmes have no obvious back-up plan.
“Players are now disrupted, unsure of what they need to do, unsure of where they’re going, and what their future looks like,” said USA all-rounder Corey Anderson, who also serves as operational director of the US Cricketers’ Association (USCA). “I guess the termination of this contract between USAC and ACE just leaves players in a limbo and in a scenario where they are now so uncertain of their futures.”
How we got here
• In 2019 ACE agreed to invest at least US$1.2 million a year into USA Cricket (USAC), covering central contracts, staff salaries and various high-performance projects.
• ACE bankrolls both Major League Cricket (MLC) and Minor League Cricket, owns the Grand Prairie High Performance Centre in Dallas and holds long leases in Morrisville and Broward County. Two drop-in pitches at Oakland Coliseum also sit on its books.
• USAC says ACE fell behind on payments and other obligations; ACE insists it has already paid more than it owes.
• On that basis USAC issued a notice of termination, effective immediately, and both parties are now consulting lawyers.
Why the players care
Anderson moved from New Zealand to Texas in 2020 and became USA-eligible in 2023. He has watched domestic players build semi-professional careers around MLC retainers, Minor League match fees and USAC contracts – all ultimately fed by ACE funds.
“And this is something that they’re extremely affected by in the way that they earn a living,” he explained. “How long does this last for? What does future seasons of Major League or Minor League or anything like that – what does that start to look like from that regard?”
Immediate knock-ons
ACE had budgeted for a 35-player high-performance camp later this month in Morrisville, including three 50-over fixtures and three T20s against West Indies A. That programme was meant to double as selection trials for World Cricket League 2 in October – USA’s next step towards the 2027 ODI World Cup – and the bigger prize of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
If the stalemate drags on, that camp is unlikely to happen. A planned women’s camp at Grand Prairie is also on hold, creating fresh uncertainty for a group that already operates on slim margins.
What the two sides are saying
USAC, in a brief statement, accused ACE of “material breaches of contract”, chiefly the late or non-payment of the annual subvention. ACE shot back, stating it has “met and exceeded every financial commitment” and called the termination “without merit”. Neither side has published audited figures, leaving outsiders guessing.
The bigger picture
Major League Cricket just finished its third season and, by US standards, has started to find an audience. Matches at Grand Prairie drew healthy crowds and the addition of the Oakland venue this summer gave the tournament bicoastal reach. All that expansion is ACE-funded. If the company pulls out – a scenario no one yet confirms – the league’s 2026 edition would be in jeopardy, not to mention regional feeder competitions and youth pathways.
Analyst view
Former USA coach Pubudu Dassanayake pointed out that, for a still-emerging cricket nation, administrative stability matters as much as player talent. “Lose the professional structure and you drop five years overnight,” he warned. “The World Cup will not wait for board politics.”
Where it could go next
• Mediation: both parties could agree to independent arbitration, maintaining the current season’s budgets while lawyers thrash out the numbers behind closed doors.
• Bridging finance: USAC might source short-term funding from ICC grants or local investors, though neither pot is bottomless.
• Full divorce: if ACE walks, USAC must find a new anchor tenant for Grand Prairie and fresh sponsorship for MLC – daunting tasks inside a year.
Either way, time is tight. The men’s national side needs fixtures, training blocks and visas sorted well before February 2026. The women’s side, trying to climb the ICC ladder, cannot afford another stop-start cycle.
Anderson, for one, hopes pragmatism wins out. “Everyone understands there have been frustrations on both sides,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “But the bigger picture is the growth of cricket in this country. We can’t lose sight of that.”
For now, players wait – pads packed, contracts unsigned – and wonder which logo will be on their shirts when the World Cup lights come on.
