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An opportunity to watch the two West Indies Cricket Board Regional 4-day semi-final matches through enhanced webcasts was announced on Friday by the West Indies Cricket Board. This opportunity may be of interest for those in Canada with limited experience of seeing the longer forms of first class cricket as well as those with general interest in cricket, not forgetting die-hard association with West Indies cricket or one of the countries within that region. A forum that has proved highly significant for many of the world’s leading players.
Continue reading WICB to webcast West Indies 4-day regional semi-finals
Former Cricket Canada president Ravin Moorthy is speaking to a media forum on social inclusion and sport in Calgary on April 26. His topic is “Cricket Canada – The Pitch for a Cricket Pitch”.
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Share features Franklyn Dennis:
When he migrated from Jamaica in 1972, Franklyn Dennis left his cricket equipment behind for a younger brother who was attending Wolmer’s at the time. A talented right-handed batsman, Dennis represented Boys’ Town and Melbourne Cricket clubs and played in two national trial matches alongside Lawrence Rowe, Maurice Foster and Desmond Lewis who all turned out for the West Indies. He was however unaware that cricket was played in Canada. “That’s the honest truth,” Dennis, who was inducted into Cricket Canada’s Hall of Fame last Saturday night, said. “I brought my soccer gear because I knew there were some Jamaicans playing in the leagues across the city.”
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Hardat acknowledges that each president brings his own style of leadership and personal attributes to the position. “Let’s just say my style is straightforward and simple,” he said. “I don’t like to micro-manage. I am blessed with an expert slate of people and who are all very capable. I will lean on them and use my skills and expertise for us to work as a cohesive unit to advance the sport. The other thing is I have worked with three presidents (Ben Sennik, Ranjit Saini and Ravin Moorthy) and I have learned from their successes and failures. I know there is room for improvement as we move forward.”
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Eshani Shevde writes for Sportpulse:-
Canadian cricket is going through a major overhaul following the loss of its ODI status, lack of qualification for the World Cup (after 4 previous appearances) and the increased illusivity of making it to the World T20 stage. Morally down and haggard, Canada is looking at an intense makeover.
The obvious fallout of the loss of ODI status was the exit of the old board and creation of a new board with new people. The goals and future plans are taking shape as Canada reevaluates its strategies. Raza-ur-Rahman, one of the key players, says that the lack of senior players could hurt the Canadian side for two reasons- lack of experience to build a team in a moment of crisis and the increased pressure for the youngsters to prove themselves and enter the team. Rather than build on the goodwill established by the senior players, proving themselves and then making the team could be a while coming.
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Faraz Sarwat for CricInfo – a must read for any follower of Canadian cricket:-
“Ravin Moorthy did not have the votes to retain the presidency and exits while he was still growing in his role. “I regret that we didn’t have more time, that we couldn’t finish all of what we started,” he said. “To not conclude commercial deals that are still under negotiation is disappointing.”
Moorthy says he was slowed down by having to do repair work on Cricket Canada’s reputation with the ICC, Sport Canada, and existing and potential sponsors. “Our history was of over-promising and under-delivering. Nobody took us seriously and it was hard work to get people to give us a second chance.”"
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CricInfo reports:-
“Associate teams will have the opportunity to play Test cricket, with the ICC Board approving an ICC Test Challenge, which will take place every four years between the lowest-ranked Test team and the winner of the ICC Intercontinental Cup. The inaugural Test Challenge will take place in 2018, with the intention of giving a context to the Intercontinental Cup.”
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National Post:-
Cricket has come a long way in Mahendra Ram’s 31 years in Toronto. He arrived from Guyana in 1983 at age 13 and still remembers the one game he played as a student, for Parkdale Collegiate Institute. His team faced a squad from Upper Canada College, the only other school with a team. “We show up and we look like this,” he says, motioning to his modest attire. “And they’re all dressed in white, complete professionals. We lost the moment we walked in.” Now, about 50 boys’ teams play at city schools, said Mr. Ram, a chemistry teacher at York Memorial Collegiate Institute where he coaches both girls and boys in cricket.
On Thursday, he stood in a Cabbagetown community centre teeming with young cricket enthusiasts to announce a tournament in May at Eglinton Flats Park, G. Ross Lord Park and Sunnybrook Park. The Mayor’s School Cricket – CIBC Trophy 2014 is also sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Thursday,
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Toronto Sun Coverage:- “Ford dismissed the idea he’s all football all the time and admitted he has played cricket.”
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 Toronto Mayor Rob Ford with the Toronto district 2013 CIBC Trophy Boys High School winners North Albion C.I. The shackles of a cold winter began to be removed as the sun shone on Thursday (April 10) and the temperature in Toronto was to reach +10C for the second day in a row. It was fitting weather for the launch of the 2014 CIBC Trophy for the Mayor’s School Cricket tournament in Toronto at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. This tournament is presented by the Canadian arm of CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and enters a fourth year in 2014.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was on hand to help launch the 2014 tournament and to present the trophies to the 2013 Toronto High School boys competition winners (North Albion Collegiate Institute) and the runner-up (Woburn Collegiate Institute). Mayor Ford told of discussions in 2011 about introducing a cricket competition into Toronto schools. He was delighted with the success of this program and congratulated all the participants, including the players, coaches, sponsors, organizers and volunteers.
Continue reading 2014 CIBC Trophy Schools Cricket program launched in Toronto
Jillian Follert writes for durhamregion.com
Efforts to bring a world-class cricket stadium to Pickering are gaining momentum. Roy Singh, CEO and founder of the Canadian Premier League T20, says he is working with Transport Canada to buy or lease federally owned property on the northeast corner of Brock Street and Hwy. 407.
“A lot of work is happening; we are moving forward,” he says.
The negotiations started after Pickering identified the land as a possible location.
“The City has suggested a parcel of land in central Pickering for this particular project,” Fiaz Jadoon, an economic development co-ordinator with the City of Pickering, said in an e-mail. “A main function of investment attraction is not only promoting our city, but facilitating the connections between the investor and the developer, and/or property ownership group.”
Mr. Jadoon said once more details are available, City planning staff will do a review of the current zoning and make recommendations. WSP Group, a Toronto-based professional services firm, is working on a feasibility study, market research and concept design for the proposed stadium.
“The focus is state-of-the-art,” Mr. Singh says. “We want this to be an iconic stadium that is recognizable throughout the world.”
He is proposing to build a 35,000-seat dome stadium that would host a 48-game CPL T20 cricket tournament every summer and other uses the rest of the year.
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Mohan (Mike) Kendall
On April 5th, there was a simultaneous change of guards at both Cricket Canada and the Ontario Cricket Association. At the end of my term as OCA president, Gulwant Bajwa has been elected as President and I understand Vimal Hardat has replaced Ravin Moorthy as the President of Cricket Canada. My sincere congratulations and best wishes to both in their respective roles.
Depending upon the directions the two organizations take under the new leaders, it could be an opportunity to bring about sensible change in status quo of the state of Cricket in this country. Or it could be business as usual with the result that the Canadian Cricket will continue to suffer and slide on the current slippery slope.
Continue reading Changing of Guards….. an OCA perspective
Ontario Cricket Association (OCA), the official governing body of cricket in the province elected a new executive on Saturday April 5th 2014, when its Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place at Spice Shack on 308 Painted Post Drive, Scarborough, Ontario. The new executive is elected for a period of two years to carry out the mandate of the association. Mr. Mike Kendall, the outgoing president of the association was replaced by Mr. Gulwant (Gullu) Bajwa as the new president. Mr. Bajwa is a former 1st Vice President of OCA and former president of Ottawa Valley Cricket Council. He has been involved with Canadian cricket since 1979 as a junior and senior cricketer and an administrator.
Mr. Melvin John is the new 1st Vice-President with Mr.Bisham Singh as the 2nd Vice-President. The 3rd and 4th Vice-Presidents are Mr. Tauqir Uddin and Mr. Pavanveer Singh respectively. Mr. Azad Khan retains the position of Secretary while Mr.Vish Jadunauth was elected as the new Treasurer and at the same time appointed as the OCA Junior Coordinator. Mr. Deo Samaroo was appointed as the Senior Coordinator. Mr. Anwar Omar was appointed Umpires’ Coordinator for the first time.
Continue reading Ontario Cricket Association media release
Some twitterings on Cricket Canada by Ashish Bagai and Zubin Surkari provide worthwhile perspectives on the state of Canadian cricket and on departing Cricket Canada President Ravin Moorthy’s contribution to the game in Canada. Now retired Canadian captain Ashish Bagai twitter posting noted: “Ravin was instrumental in moving the game forward”.
Zubin Surkari mentioned “cricket is getting better” and there are “more Canadian players than ever before”. The comments, if expanded, would doubtless point to increases in not just the number of players, but also in the quality of the players. Surkari also noted “CEO needs more face time”, indicating, I suspect, a need for a broader public face from cricket’s administrators in building the game across Canada.
Ravin Moorthy clearly helped secure the participation of the various Canadian players in salvaging the International All-Star “big game” at the Rogers Centre in May 2012. Moorthy became President of Cricket Canada shortly before this game. The loss of key players before the game, and a range of issues surrounding the game place left many participants and spectators unhappy.
But, I think, it could have been much worse if there had been no game. An opinion that depends on one’s perspective and particular interests, although Canadian cricket clearly took a reputational hit on an international basis in the aftermath of this event.
Ravin Moorthy leaves the national cricket stage after seven years of service to the Canadian Cricket Association and Cricket Canada, including the last two years as President. He is highly regarded as a result of previous efforts to re-build cricket in Alberta, particularly in the Calgary area. Best wishes to him for his efforts, and for the future inside and beyond the boundaries.
Continue reading Some twitterings as Cricket Canada President Ravin Moorthy leaves the stage
Ron Fanfare writes for Share:-
“Was there ever going to be a Canadian Cricket Hall of Fame in my lifetime? Former Canadian medium pacer Davis Joseph asked himself the question about a year ago? Imagine his delight when he was informed last weekend that he was among Cricket Canada’s inaugural inductees as a player and as a member of the 2003 national team that created history by defeating Bangladesh by 60 runs for Canada’s first and only ever World Cup victory. “That was my most fulfilling moment team-wise on the cricket field,” said Grenadian-born Joseph who represented Canada for 19 years before retiring in 2003. “Nobody expected us to win but I made a point of letting my teammates know that we had to win that game. I gave everything I had in that match to prove that we had a right to be there.”
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Vimal Hardat is Cricket Canada’s new president, with Amit Joshi as Vice President, Charles Pais as Treasurer, Zafar Kahan as Secretary and Senthil Selvamani, Mike Sharma and Mukesh Narula as directors.
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