The WICB and the USA Cricket Association (USACA) have announced a
"long-term joint partnership" to help develop cricket in the USA. The
plan includes bringing the best performing players in USACA leagues and
clubs into WICB development programmes, and having a member of West
Indies' board of directors sit on the USA board to prop up cricket
administration in the country.
The focus will be on bettering player performance, administration and
the financial state of the game in the USA, the joint statement from the
two boards said. To facilitate the third point, USACA's chief executive
"have a position" on the WICB's executive committee.
WICB president Whycliffe Cameron said the West Indies board was
supporting the USACA's attempt to bring in governance changes. "We are
going to be engaged on a day-to-day basis on the three core pillars for
development," Cameron said. "We will rapidly build plans and open up
infrastructure for bringing top US players into the West Indian
development system, and we are supporting the finalisation of the
current USACA governance changes."
Gladstone Dainty, the USACA president, said the "access to a very close
geographic Full Member" was a great chance for his administration and
the players. "Having the opportunity to work closely with another Full
Member country offers exciting opportunities for US players looking to
sharpen skills and experiences with world-class cricketers. The WICB
will also, via their board member on the USACA board, support the
governance change programme that the USACA board is currently managing.
This is a long-term strategy to help build the three foundations for a
highly successful US cricketing market: high performance development,
models for economic growth and modern-day governance."
This partnership comes at a vital time for the USACA. The organistaion is on shaky ground, given it could be facing suspension
from the ICC with its control over the sport in the country slipping.
Under ICC rules, Associate membership is dependent upon a board proving
it is "the sole recognised governing body for cricket in the country".
But dissatisfaction with the USACA had meant around a third of the
country's senior hard-ball leagues signed up with the rival
organisation, the American Cricket Federation.
In another setback, apparent frustration at the USACA's failure to
accept governance reform was said to be a contributing factor the
board's chief executive, Darren Beazley, recently quitting
- his yet-to-be-named replacement will sit on the WICB's executive
committee. High performance manager Andy Pick also resigned, citing
political interference in his selection and development plans. The board
is believed to be around $3m in debt and if the ICC suspend it and
withdraw funding - believed to be around $400,000 a year - it could
spell the end for it.
The USACA had twice before been suspended by the ICC, both times with
Dainty at the helm; in 2005 and 2007 the ICC took the action due to
governance issues.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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