NEW YORK: With the announcement on February 19 of the long awaited and much anticipated national elections for the USA Cricket Association (USACA), a team of seasoned and successful cricket administrators and leaders has emerged to challenge the incumbents.

Led by Ram Varadarajan, CEO of Arcot Systems, Inc., this team combines several decades of cricket development activities such as new ground acquisitions and development, national children's cricket competitions and numerous club, league and regional initiatives. Presidential candidate, Ram Varadarajan, noted shortly after the launch of his team's election web site last week "…the response to the announcement of our team and the ideas and energy we bring has been fantastic.

I am getting e-mails and calls from interested people all around the world telling me that US cricket needs new management and initiatives to take it to the next level. There is widespread support for our team and people are asking how they can help make change happen. We appreciate and are humbled by the outpouring of support."

Noting the current administration's failure to capitalize on the market opportunity for cricket, Ram said that "it pains me that USACA has not been able to bring corporate commitment to cricket, the world's second most popular sport. The last few years have seen a significant increase in the monies spent globally on cricket by corporate sponsors and commercial organizers.

The new USACA will find a symbiotic way to match the support of corporate sponsors and professional cricket organizations with the grass roots development needs in America. My team and I are well suited for this task and are committed to its success."

John Aaron, candidate for Secretary, is excited by the chance to get USACA re-admitted to the ICC: "…for too long now our children and adult players have been unable to play and develop their cricket in the international arena due to the ICC's suspension of the current administration.

It is critically important for our team to be elected. We have harnessed the energy and chemistry needed to effect change in US cricket.

We will strive to allow our players the opportunity to represent their country against the best in the world, and also create opportunities for the flow of capital needed to develop the sport in the very large US market."