USACA admonished over handling of women's team

Pressure is mounting on the USA Cricket Association to get its internal affairs in order following a strongly worded mail from ICC Americas regional development manager Martin Vieira over its recent handling of the USA women's team. It has also been rapped for its failure to meet an ICC administrative deadline in the build-up to next month's ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh.

The email, a copy of which is with ESPNcricinfo, was from Vieira to USACA general manager Manaf Mohamed. In it Vieira raised USA's failure to send a provisional World Cup squad of 18 players to the ICC despite repeated reminders from ICC development officer David Thorley. All provisional squads were due to be submitted to the ICC on September 30 but, according to an email from Thorley, USA is the only country to have failed to comply with the deadline. The last time USACA made any communication to the ICC regarding the women's team was on September 19.

The majority of the squad is locked in a dispute with USACA after refusing to accept the tour stipend they've been offered due to the fact that it's significantly less than what the men's team receives. Adding to the instability is the replacement of the team coach Linden Fraser with former India allrounder Robin Singh.

"If USACA is not concerned let me be frank and say the email below from David Thorley is an absolute disgrace to the Americas region," Vieira wrote in an email dated October 12. He further admonished USACA over their failure to hold a proper line of communication with officials at ICC headquarters in Dubai about the status of the women's team. "The region's image is being tarnished by the poor communication coming from your national association."

Vieira said the ICC Americas regional office had invested a lot of time, money, coaching and other resources to help prepare the USA squad for the tournament in an effort to avoid the embarrassment of repeating the fate of Bermuda, the lone representative from the Americas region at the Women's World Cup Qualifier in 2008. Bermuda lost all five of their games to finish last, including a shocking performance against South Africa when they were bowled out for 13.

However, Vieira fears that all the efforts from members of his Toronto office that went toward helping the USA women's squad might be wasted due to squabbling and infighting taking place at USACA.

"Now just days away from departure we are hearing about problems with teams that can only mean a less than desirable result. Coaches are replaced and the rumours have up to 12 players refusing to go and will be replaced," Vieira wrote. "I urge you and the USACA executive to take a close look at this issue and give this team and women's cricket the attention it deserves. In my opinion countries in this region do not have the depth to select 'B' squads to represent them at this level."

The USA women's squad was scheduled to hold a training camp in Florida this weekend. A final 14-player squad must be submitted to the ICC by Saturday, October 15.