USACA elections delayed by three months

The USA Cricket Association has announced that it is delaying regional and national elections by at least three more months based on a recommendation made by attorney Robert Chance, who is conducting the controversial compliance review audit of all USACA member leagues.

USACA had posted a notice last month after a November 17 conference call in which Chance requested that leagues be given an additional week to turn in requested documents for his compliance review in order to help make a recommendation as to which leagues were valid and in turn eligible to vote in elections. However, the latest release on the USACA website says that at a board meeting conference call held on December 3, the board voted by a "large majority" to take up Chance's proposal to "provide help and assistance to the leagues wanting to comply with the USACA constitution and run the elections when a majority of leagues, ideally at least 66%, are compliant. This could be done in around three months or less."

According to the release, if the elections were held now, few leagues could participate because most have been unable to provide all of the requested documentation to show that they are fully compliant. The release says that Chance "suggested that USACA should work to assist those member leagues who may prove deficient in areas such as the implementation of development programs, financial controls and written constitutions. The additional ninety days would, therefore, also allow USACA to put mechanisms in place that will allow leagues to request and receive such assistance in meeting their eligibility requirements."

After yet another delay to elections, which were constitutionally mandated to take place no later than November 30, the possibility increases that USACA could face another ICC suspension. USACA was suspended twice in the last decade after internal disputes relating to governance issues. The last suspension occurred in March of 2007 after USACA failed to meet an ICC imposed deadline to approve a constitution and hold elections. USACA did not wind up ratifying a constitution until the following January with elections taking place more than a year later in March of 2008, after which the suspension was finally lifted.

As a result of the last suspension, USA was not allowed to participate in the inaugural ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Darwin, Australia in 2007 and were ultimately dropped down to Division Five upon being readmitted into the ICC fold. They were also removed from the 2005 Intercontinental Cup during their first suspension. USA qualified in July to take part in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE next March and are supposed to participate in ICC World Cricket League Division Four, which is due to be held next summer.

According to USACA general manager Manaf Mohamed, the ICC had been in contact with him about hosting Division Four and officials had informed him that they expected to make a final decision on the matter in November. When contacted on Sunday night, Mohamed said he had not heard from the ICC for several weeks but said he did not see any reason why USA's spot in either tournament would be in jeopardy.