USA Cricket approves election resolution, calls for applicants for Independent Director

According to an announcement made on Wednesday, USA Cricket members have approved a resolution that temporarily waives the eligibility requirements for the coming election in order to address low levels of membership which USAC claims have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Earlier in the week, the board convened ‘alongside independent legal advice that had been obtained from its expert legal counsel’ to approve the membership resolution ‘in accordance with applicable constitutional requirements’. 

USAC’s Constitution dictates (18.1.) that an affirmative vote of at least sixty-seven (67%) percent of those Individual Members who vote in an election on such proposed amendments is required to amend, repeal, or alter the USA Cricket Constitution. 

Emerging Cricket reached out on Wednesday to USA Cricket for further details of the exact vote tally, as well as the result of the second proposed amendment which would empower the board to limit committee terms to one year, down from the current three-year term. As of the publication of this article official clarification on either question is yet to be received.

In the announcement, Iain Higgins acknowledged ‘various concerns’ surrounding the membership process and USAC’s plans for the coming election, affirming that the intent of these resolutions ‘has always been to build USA Cricket in as inclusive a way as possible, especially in what has been an extremely challenging period for domestic cricket in this country.’ 

‘We began 2020 working constructively with Leagues and Academies representing more than 15,000 individual players all over the country, and all of whom had formally committed earlier in the year to becoming members of USA Cricket,’ Higgins continued in the announcement.

‘Unfortunately, the onset of COVID has destroyed the domestic season and interrupted that progress, and, for various unforeseen reasons, we have not yet been able to formally launch our new membership platform as we had planned. This has impacted our ability to finalize and publish the membership proposition itself, and provide clarity on the commencement and timeline around the upcoming elections. This is disappointing, but we ask the cricket community for their patience and support while the final parts of this important piece of work are put into place.’

Higgins went on to explain the principles behind the new membership portal and phases involved in the coming January launch. After the rollout of the membership portal, the Nominating and Governance Committee will announce a timetable for the electoral process, which includes identifying a new deadline for voting eligible membership registration. 

USA Cricket followed their resolution announcement with a brief request for Independent Director applicants on Thursday. Applications and nominations for consideration close on December 24, 2020. 

You’re reading Emerging Cricket — brought to you by a passionate group of volunteers with a vision for cricket to be a truly global sport, and a mission to inspire passion to grow the game.

Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, please subscribe for regular updates, and follow EC on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Don’t know where to start? Check out our features list, country profiles, and subscribe to our podcast.

Support us from US$2 a month — and get exclusive benefits, by becoming an EC Patron.