Dehring extends USACA ballot

Unease over the ratification of the revised constitution of the USA Cricket Association grew with the last-minute extension of the deadline for voting from December 27 to December 31.

The move by Chris Dehring, the independent third party appointed by the ICC, was largely in response to claims that some voting forms were not sent out in time for them to give clubs the required period to consider how they wanted to vote.

There were claims circulating last week that some forms were only dispatched on December 12, giving less than a fortnight for them to be completed and returned and not the 21 days required. By giving an extra four days, Dehring should have ensured that particular bone of contention has been put to rest.

It seems likely that Dehring's intervention will ensure that the new constitution is passed and that fresh elections can be held as a result. However, it is also growing abundantly clear that if those elections return Gladstone Dainty, the existing chairman, and his much-maligned executive then even some of those who have backed the new constitution will refuse to work with the board.