When international cricketers first stepped on United States’ soil to join Major League Cricket (MLC), they thought that this was an opportunity of a lifetime. But that very same opportunity is now under threat. A collapse of partnership between the USA Cricket (USAC) and American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) has thrown the future of countless international players into uncertainty. In a recent spat between the two boards, USAC has accused ACE of breach of contract, visa misuse and even called for a federal investigation. Caught in the middle of this dispute are cricketers who moved to America with the promise of long-term deals; their respective futures and careers are now at risk.
ACE has bankrolled Major League Cricket, a franchise-based league-cricket tournament in the USA, since 2019. They had an exclusive 50-year right to operate elite T20 cricket in America under the partnership. In exchange, ACE promised funding to the national teams, producing professional leagues and also promised to build six stadiums across the country.
The ties between ACE and USAC are now severed. The USAC has accused ACE of bringing in players, staff and coaches by misusing visa categories. Allegations that could constitute immigration fraud and potentially violate the U.S. antitrust law. According to The Hindu, a U.S. Congressman has since called for a federal probe into ACE’s operations by submitting a letter to the Department of Justice.
An Indian-origin cricketer, currently contracted with ACE, told RevSportz on condition of anonymity:
“We are worried about our future. Many of us came here after an initial three-year contract. We were promised that we would get help with securing a green card after 7–8 years of moving here. Many of us have brought along our families.”
The anonymous player revealed the scale of the risk: “Our careers too are on the line. We have retired from BCCI and there’s no way of us playing cricket in India after being out of the circuit for so long. We’re not sure what’s going to happen next or if we’re going to be sent back to our home countries. But we’re scared.”
Many are aware that the BCCI does not allow players contracted under it to play international leagues, which is why some of the cricketers retired from the BCCI and took a leap of faith to play in the MLC. Returning home is not a realistic option. They are now far too removed from the domestic system to make a comeback, yet their base in the U.S. is not secure enough. For players, who have relied on ACE’s assurance for their visa status or green card pathways, this fallout could mean losing not just their careers but also their legal standing in the U.S.