Nabeel Ahmed resigns from USACA board

Nabeel Ahmed, the first vice-president of the USA Cricket Association, has resigned from the USACA board. It was reported that Ahmed had informed president Gladstone Dainty of his resignation and cited "his disappointment with Dainty's leadership" as one of the reasons.

"I did see an email addressed to me, but it was qualified that an official letter would be coming," Dainty said when contacted by phone on Monday night. "Lots of times, when there's frustration, a lot of people say a lot of things. I do take it seriously, but at the same time, I deal with only official stuff."

Ahmed, however, confirmed in an email what had been reported earlier. "I have resigned," he said. "The whole board and CEO knows it." Ahmed's resignation adds fuel to the speculation that he may run against Dainty to be USACA president at the next election.

Despite this, USACA chief executive Don Lockerbie hoped that Ahmed will change his mind. "I'm waiting to have Nabeel send a formal letter of resignation, which I have not seen," Lockerbie said. "I don't know what to say because I haven't been able to speak to Nabeel, but I'm hopeful that there's reconsideration. We need Nabeel."

According to USACA's treasurer, John Thickett, Ahmed was a member of the Commercial Committee along with Thickett, Dainty, and Lockerbie. The committee is responsible for reviewing commercial opportunities received by USACA through their request for proposals in a global tender. Thickett said in a recent interview that they were closing in on a deal that could generate in excess of $10 million for association.

Both Dainty and Lockerbie were unsure as to whether there would be a replacement named for Ahmed before the next USACA election in 2011, or if Ahmed's position would be left vacant until the election. "That's a board decision. I can't speak for the board," Dainty said.