Johnathan Atkeison has been selected as the new CEO of USA Cricket. He is presently fulfilling the role of Chief Operating Officer at USA Rugby and is set to undertake the CEO position immediately after its vacancy in March earlier this year following the controversial removal of Dr. Noor Mohammad.
Atkeison’s appointment closely follows the warning issued to the cricket board by the ICC regarding the incapacity to appoint a full-time CEO and the failure to gain recognition from the United States Olympics and Paralympics Committee (USOPC).
While Atkeison, with 13 years of experience at USA Rugby, faces the challenge of acquainting himself with the new sports landscape as the new CEO, his primary hurdle lies in navigating through the internal political turbulence and controversies that have long affected the sport. The recent episode involved USAC directors accusing the chairman and his associates of misconduct and intimidation.
Atkeison will also be caught in the standoff between USAC and their strategic partner ACE (owners of MLC). The apparent lack of collaboration between both parties has negatively impacted national players due to USAC’s failure to adequately fund national player contracts.
USA Cricket has witnessed frequent turnover in the CEO position since its inception. From the controversial departure of the first CEO Iain Higgins in December 2021, subsequent CEOs like Vinay Bhimjiani and Dr. Noor Mohammad had brief tenures marked by internal conflicts. Atkeison may also face staff shortages following the departure of long-serving employees Jamie Paul Lloyd and Julia Abbott.
“I am privileged to join the USA Cricket team. This is an exciting time for cricket in the United States, with significant achievements such as the men’s national team’s performance in the recent T20 World Cup, completion of the second season of Major League Cricket, and the upcoming opportunity to showcase cricket in the Olympics during the LA28 games on home ground. Our aim is to establish a top-notch organization to capitalize on this momentum and firmly establish cricket’s prominence in American sports,” stated Atkeison.
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