NEW YORK: Paraag Marathe, the Indian-origin veteran administrator of the NFL team San Francisco 49ers, has been elected unanimously as the chairman of USA Cricket till 2020. Marathe’s 18-year experience in a variety of roles for the 49ers such as being its chief contract negotiator and overseeing the construction of the new Levi’s Stadium, is likely to serve the cricket board in good stead.
Marathe’s first task will be to oversee USA Cricket’s recently commenced application for associate membership to the ICC and to explore commercial professional league opportunities for cricket in the country. The application will be considered by an ICC Board-appointed Membership Committee which has been initially established for this task comprising the likes of CEO Dave Richardson, chairman Shashank Manohar, chairman of the ICC cricket committee and former India captain Anil Kumble as well as independent director, Indra Nooyi.
If the committee is satisfied that USA Cricket meets ICC membership requirements, it will make a recommendation to the ICC Board to be considered at its earliest opportunity. Followed by which, the recommendation for application needs to be approved for the ICC’s Full Council to vote via circular resolution whether to accept USA Cricket as the ICC’s 105th member nation.
Last month, USA Cricket had confirmed its first-ever independent Board of Directors (BOD) which involves Marathe. His first meeting as chairman, came at the inaugural board meeting on 21 September.
“I feel privileged to have been elected the inaugural Chair of USA Cricket,” said Marathe.
“As a board, we are very much looking forward to the challenge of building a strong and sustainable organisation that can not only achieve cricket’s extraordinary potential in the United States, but can also position USA Cricket as a leading member of the ICC.
“Crucial to achieving this success is engaging with, and uniting, the USA Cricket community. That message was made loud and clear at our inaugural meeting, and I am incredibly excited by the talent and passion that we have attracted to this Board. While there is a very big job ahead of us, I am very confident that this Board can deliver on our ultimate goal.”
He is also encouraged by the on-field performances of Team USA with the men’s national team recently winning the ICC World T20 Americas’ Sub-Regional Qualifier and thereby qualifying for the next stage of the men’s ICC World T20 2020.
“The World T20 Americas Qualifier A has been a very successful tournament, wonderfully hosted in North Carolina with some excellent cricket. “We saw big crowds which demonstrates the appetite for cricket in the United States. Congratulations to the team for qualifying for the 2019 Regional Final.” he signed off.
