USA Cricket (USAC) has pulled out of its 2019 commercial agreement with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the investment group behind Major League Cricket (MLC) and Minor League Cricket (MiLC). ACE hit back within hours, calling the termination “unlawful” and “wrongful” and insisting it has met every commitment under the deal.
“The breaches span critical areas, including financial commitments, infrastructure development, organizational structural, and governance responsibilities,” USAC said in a statement, adding that ACE had failed to “fulfill its contractual and fiduciary obligations” despite “extensive dialogue, the issuance of formal breach notices, and repeated opportunities to cure defaults.”
Key facts first
• Agreement signed: May 2019, granting ACE commercial rights to domestic T20 and developmental competitions.
• MLC seasons completed: Three, with Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas acting as the flagship venue.
• Termination date: 21 August 2025, less than a month before the next MiLC season.
• Central flashpoint: Whether ACE has honoured promised payments and infrastructure projects.
USAC chair Venu Pisike said the board had acted only after years of reminders. “USA Cricket entered into this partnership with ACE in good faith, with the shared vision of building sustainable infrastructure, providing competitive opportunities for our athletes, and creating commercial growth for the sport in America,” he explained. “But, when it comes to USA Cricket, ACE has consistently failed to meet its obligations under the agreement, which has jeopardized the broader development of cricket in United States.”
Pisike added that concerns also centred on “the circumstances under which ACE was given the contract and the usage of USA Cricket intellectual property.” He stressed USAC’s wish to protect “the best interests of the sport and its stakeholders” and left the door open to re-negotiation under “new terms and conditions” more aligned with national-team and grassroots priorities.
ACE rejects the allegations
ACE’s rebuttal was terse. “USAC is hypocritically alleging contractual noncompliance,” the company said, before expanding on the potential fallout. “ACE is disappointed that USAC has selfishly chosen, on the eve of the 2025 MiLC season, to wrongfully terminate its agreement with ACE. USAC’s conduct undermines the hard work and dedication of all players, staff and team personnel involved in U.S. cricket, and the continued development of the sport in this country. It also jeopardizes MiLC, men’s, women’s and youth national team activities, and preparations for upcoming ICC events and the LA28 Olympics.”
ACE insists it has already exceeded the financial thresholds laid out in 2019. “Indeed, based on information that has come to light, USAC may have been advised against terminating the agreement. Despite what has been stated about ACE’s performance, ACE has exceeded its financial obligations under the agreement,” the statement continued.
Where the rows sit
At the heart of the dispute are differing interpretations of a complex revenue-sharing model. USAC claims promised funds for national programmes, coaching wages and age-group pathways have arrived late or not at all. ACE counters that it sank tens of millions of dollars into stadium upgrades, player contracts and community clinics, thereby meeting – even surpassing – its side of the bargain.
Independent observers have long warned the partnership was strained. One US-based administrator, speaking on background, suggested delays in corporate governance reforms inside USAC added to the tension. Another pointed out that cricket’s imminent return to the Olympic Games, combined with the ICC’s 2026 T20 World Cup cycle, has intensified pressure on all parties to present a united front.
What next?
Legal action looks likely. Although both sides voice willingness to talk, the language has already hardened. Contract lawyers will pore over clauses covering early termination, intellectual property and broadcast rights. For players, coaches and supporters the timetable is simpler: MiLC is scheduled to start in September, and MLC’s fourth season is pencilled in for next summer. Until a resolution is found, every match will carry a question mark.
Yet an outright collapse of professional cricket in the United States remains improbable. The ICC’s strategic plan emphasises North America as an expansion market, and private investors still see value in a cricket audience boosted by diaspora communities. The real risk is a prolonged courtroom battle diverting energy and money away from performance pathways and stadium builds – precisely the areas the original 2019 agreement was meant to safeguard.
Pisike closed his remarks on a conciliatory note. “USA Cricket is resolute in ensuring that American cricket has a strong, sustainable future. We will continue to work closely with the International Cricket Council, domestic stakeholders, and partners to deliver on this vision.” Whether ACE will be among those partners now depends on negotiations – or a judge’s ruling.
