Incoming Ibrox investor Paraag Marathe was at the centre of a bizarre messy lawsuit... over ambitious plans to launch cricket as a major sport in the USA.
The Leeds United chairman is at the forefront of a bid to takeover Rangers with the 47-year-old hoping to conclude the deal in the coming months.
He's the long-standing president of the San Francisco 49ers and also took over Leeds in July 2023.
But a lesser-known chapter in his sporting portfolio came the previous year when he resigned as chairman of USA Cricket after a lawsuit was served on him and other board members for 'multiple violations of constitutionally defined processes related to USA Cricket membership eligibility and elections.'
Marathe's Indian father was a passionate cricket fan and he took over as chairman of USA Cricket in 2018 and aimed to build it from a minority sport in the States by launching a Major League Cricket series and reintroduce the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he was successful.
But he admitted the bitter fall-out left a bad taste in his mouth after denying he quit his role because of the lawsuit.
He said: "When I started in this role, I didn't realise cricket was everywhere in the USA. I thought it was a niche sport. There is so much passion and interest in cricket here.
Read more:
-
Jose Mourinho salutes Ibrox greatness as Rangers Euro tie awaits
-
Leeds United fan view: 'Marmite' 49ers Enterprises not a 'golden ticket' for Rangers
"But now a minority of individuals tried to make it out that my leaving was a trade to avoid the lawsuit. In reality, I had been thinking about it from the beginning. This was always planned.
"The lawsuit...we didn't think it had merits.
"I am not leaving cricket in the USA, I am committed as I always have been. This is just the close of one chapter and the beginning of another.
"There are other ways to contribute and I plan to fully dive in to help the game grow here. My future is with the commercial interests.
"My goal is to help build something that outlasts my career and my lifetime.”
