The simmering power struggle within American cricket has spilled into the courts, with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) filing legal proceedings against USA Cricket (USAC).
In a press release on Wednesday, ACE said: “USAC’s handling of the ACE agreement has been chaotic and reckless. It is emblematic of USAC’s bad faith. A small group of USAC directors have chosen to prioritize politics rather than preparing teams that can build on their recent successes. These actions have jeopardized ACE’s significant investments into U.S. cricket over the last six years, as well as the continued success of cricket in the U.S. USAC’s wrongful conduct cannot go unanswered, so today, ACE filed legal proceedings against USAC regarding its improper termination of the ACE agreement.”
READ: USA Cricket terminates ACE deal amid governance dispute
Back in 2019, ACE — co-founded by Sameer Mehta, Satyan Gajwani, Vijay Srinivasan, and Vineet Jain — secured exclusive 50-year rights to operate elite T20 cricket in the country. In exchange, ACE pledged to fund the national teams, construct six stadiums, and launch professional leagues.
The alliance was hailed as transformative and coincided with landmark milestones for U.S. cricket. The country co-hosted the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, pulled off a historic win over Pakistan en route to the Super 8s, and was later recognized with the ICC’s Associate Member Men’s Team Performance of the Year award.
But relations deteriorated sharply this summer. On June 23, USAC issued ACE a breach notice, citing missed payments, unfulfilled stadium projects, interference in governance, and overreach in international dealings. ACE denied the charges, countering that the board had misrepresented the original term sheet.
Despite the turmoil, ACE’s flagship venture, Major League Cricket (MLC), has completed three successful seasons with heavy backing from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. Four of MLC’s six teams are IPL-owned, with MI New York lifting the most recent title.
Published on Sep 17, 2025
