USA Cricket has terminated its long-term commercial agreement with American Cricket Enterprise Inc. (ACE), marking a dramatic rupture in a partnership once billed as the cornerstone of cricket’s rise in the United States.
Just last month, this publication reported how a contractual dispute between ACE and the board threatened USA Cricket’s Olympic certification, its standing with the International Cricket Council (ICC), and even its authority over the sport domestically.
In 2019, USA Cricket handed ACE — co-founded by Sameer Mehta, Satyan Gajwani, Vijay Srinivasan, and Vineet Jain — exclusive 50-year rights to operate elite T20 cricket in the country.
In return, ACE pledged to finance national teams, build six stadiums, and establish professional leagues.
Those promises coincided with the national side’s on-field growth: co-hosting the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, stunning Pakistan en route to the Super 8s, and earning the ICC’s Associate Member Men’s Team Performance of the Year award.
One of ACE’s flagship projects was Major League Cricket (MLC), a professional T20 league that has completed three seasons.
The tournament has attracted strong IPL investment, with four of its six franchises — MI New York (Mumbai Indians), Texas Super Kings (Chennai Super Kings), LA Knight Riders (Kolkata Knight Riders), and the Seattle Orcas (Delhi Capitals) — owned by Indian Premier League teams.
MI New York claimed the most recent title, while the San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom complete the line-up.
Yet governance strains soon surfaced. On June 23 this year, USA Cricket served ACE a breach notice, citing delayed payments, missed infrastructure targets, interference in board affairs, and overreach in international dealings. ACE rejected the claims, accusing the board of misrepresenting the original term sheet.
“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,” said Venu Pisike, USA Cricket Board Chairman.
“We are supportive for the growth and success of Major League Cricket and Minor League Cricket. 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.
“After years of engagement and repeated breach notices, USA Cricket has no choice but to terminate this agreement to protect the best interests of the sport and its stakeholders. Additionally, we also raised concerns around the circumstances under which ACE was given the contract and the usage of USA Cricket intellectual property,” he added.
Published on Aug 22, 2025
