Barnett's eyes firmly on Hawke Cup (Marlborough Express) -- Posted Friday, October 30 2009
By DAVID DAWKINS - The Marlborough Express L30/10/2009
He's played cricket at the highest level, but Geoff Barnett now has just one aim.
Barnett will captain Marlborough for the first time on Sunday when they defend the Newman Shield against Nelson at Horton Park and the Canadian international and former Central Districts batsman said this season his focus was firmly on helping his home province collect some silverware.
"I don't have a lot of big personal goals at the moment," Barnett said.
"I just want to play at the highest level I can. My main aim is to win the Hawke Cup with Marlborough."
While Sunday's match won't be worth any Hawke Cup points, the all-important Newman Shield is on the line and it is a chance for Marlborough to start the season on a winning note under their new skipper.
The callup to captain the side didn't come as a surprise to Barnett, despite his not filling a regular skipper's role with any side since the Marlborough Boys' College first XI.
With last year's captain, Brendon Diamanti, expected to play a limited role due to CD commitments and vice-captain Cleighten Cornelius overseas, the 25-year-old said coach Denis Aberhart discussed the position with him and he was keen to take up the reins.
With Diamanti and long-time Marlborough captain Greg Stretch in the team, Barnett said he was confident he would have plenty of support.
"I don't want to be the type of captain who calls too many shots myself. I want everyone to be able to ask questions and have an equal input."
Barnett said he had learnt a lot playing under several good captains, with Canada's John Davison the standout.
Barnett will lead a Marlborough side that is near full strength, although Cornelius is unavailable and his brother Wade is a late withdrawal from the side named earlier this week. His place will be taken by Wairau Valley medium pacer Nick Allen.
Aberhart said Allen was unlucky to miss out on the original side, and while he didn't have the pace of Cornelius, he brought excellent control and enthusiasm.
Allen joins a consistent bowling lineup that includes Greg Hegglun, Ben Wheeler, Mark Gear, Barnett and spinners Nick d'Auvergne and Josh Poole.
With early-season conditions favouring the bowlers, Aberhart said the onus would be on the batsmen to do the hard yards.
"It will be hard work, but they [the batsmen] have to accept that responsibility and do the hard work. They need to do the basics, take the singles. It's runs on the board that counts."
Barnett and experienced opener Mike Hood will be counted on to set the platform, along with Andrew McCaa and Diamanti at the top of the order.
Poole, Wheeler and Jerrym Lamb form a young middle order that showed last season they can do the job with the bat, while Stretch can always be counted on to put a high price on his wicket.
Last year, Marlborough and Nelson met twice in one-day play, with the sides sharing the honours.
Nelson will also field a similar team this season, but without Duncan Cederman, unavailable for rep play, and Richard Sherlock, who has moved to Auckland.
Ryan Edwards has returned to the side from several seasons playing and coaching in England and will fill Cederman's No5 batting spot, while newcomer Marty King is expected to be dangerous with the ball.
Ex-Canterbury Country batsman Chris Bartholomeuz was expected to play but a back injury suffered while playing for Nelson Emerging Players against Canterbury Country on Monday has ruled him out.
The match starts at 11am.
Marlborough: Geoff Barnett (c), Mike Hood, Andrew McCaa, Brendon Diamanti, Josh Poole, Ben Wheeler, Jerrym Lamb, Greg Stretch, Greg Hegglun, Nick Allen, Mark Gear, Nick d'Auvergne.
Nelson: Paul Capstick, BJ Barnett, Mark Gardiner (c), Greg Hay, Ryan Edwards, Bryan Krammer, Kurt Pahl, Kyle Paki Paki, Andrew Binnie, Nathan Todd, Daniel Rae, Marty King.
Canada to face Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Sri Lankas at U19 WC -- Posted Thursday, October 29 2009
Canada's fixtures in New Zealand
Warm-ups:
Jan. 11 vs South Africa
Jan. 12 vs Hong Kong
Preliminary Round:
Jan. 15 vs Zimbabwe
Jan. 16 vs New Zealand
Jan. 18 vs Sri Lanka
Followed by:
Quarter-finals
or
Plate competition
Sport Oakville recognizes Halton CC -- Posted Saturday, October 24 2009
Oakville Beaver
Oct 23, 2009
Sport Oakville honoured the town’s top athletes, teams, coaches and volunteers last weekend with its second annual Sport Recognition Awards at Town Hall.
More than 200 awards were handed out to celebrate the excellence, perseverance and dedication of its member sport organizations in the areas of sports development, performance and contribution to the community.
Saturday’s awards were hosted by The Weather Network’s Chris Mei. CBC News at 6 host Diana Swain, who also worked last year’s Olympic Summer Games in Beijing for CBC, was the event’s guest speaker.
Below are brief bios of the award winners:
HALTON STARS CRICKET CLUB
• Athlete Award – Ali Shah: As captain of the Halton Stars Cricket Club, Ali has won a few games by his individual efforts in a season where he scored one 100 and two 50’s for the team, scoring a total of 366 runs.
• Coach award – Saleem Zafar Shah: Saleem played an incredible role in his team’s achievement of winning the championships last season and making the playoffs this season. He has provided a strong foundation to his players and is developing champions.
• Team Award – Halton Stars Cricket Club (Muhammad Ali, Kaleem Arif, Arsalan Baig, Abreez Gul, Muhammad Haroon, Imranul Haq Kazmi, Abdul Majid Kahn, Atique Ahmed Kahn, Nadeem Mahmood, Izaz Mansur, Bilal Mohammad Khan, Bhoj Pidar, Imran Raja, Naveed Anwar Sehrai, Ali Shah, Varun Sheth, Adeel Siddiqi, Farid Siddiqui, Muhammad Saqib Siddiqui, Asim Syed, Ghufran Ali Syed, Kaukab Syed, Tahir Bilal Syed, Mubasher Waheed, Saleem Zafar): This team was runner-up in the regular season and won the playoff championships in 2008. It has been promoted to the Elite division of the Etobicoke and District Cricket League.
• Volunteer Award – Kaleem Arif: Kaleem has been running the Halton Stars Cricket Club since 2005, where he has devoted time, money and effort to the promotion of cricket in Oakville and in Halton.
Canada to face Aussies in cricket’s World Cup; Canadians overseas (Share) -- Posted Wednesday, October 21 2009
From http://www.sharenews.com
By RON FANFAIR
Canada will face defending champions Australia for the first time ever in cricket's next World Cup tournament in 2011 in south Asia.
Winners of the last three finals and the last tournament jointly staged by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka 22 years ago, the Aussies will be favoured to capture an unprecedented fourth straight title.
Joining Canada and Australia in Group "A" are 1992 champions Pakistan, 1996 winners Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The other group comprises India, South Africa, England, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and The Netherlands.
Former Sri Lanka and Canada wicketkeeper/batsman-turned-national-coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, acknowledged that the local side will be tested when it meets the world's top teams in the next 16 months.
"If we want to advance to the Super Eight stage, we will have to beat two Full members," said Dassanayake. "That means that we will have to be at our very best when we come up against these teams if we expect to be competitive and give ourselves a chance of creating upsets."
Canada was grouped with Kenya and New Zealand in the last World Cup in the West Indies in which the teams were divided into four groups. In the 2003 competition in South Africa, the national side was in the same group with Sri Lanka, Kenya and New Zealand.
England, Pakistan and Australia were clustered with World Cup debutants Canada in the 1979 edition.
The next World Cup, which starts on February 18, 2011 with the opening ceremony in Bangladesh, will be shorter than the last version. The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed a new format that will reduce the number of games from 51 to 49 and possibly lessen the duration by at least a week. A total of 16 teams took part in the 2007 World Cup over six weeks.
India will host 29 of the 49 matches across eight venues, Sri Lanka will stage 12 games at three venues and Bangladesh has been allotted eight matches to be staged at two grounds.
Pakistan was stripped of hosting rights because of security concerns following an armed attack by unidentified gunmen on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore last March.
India-born Ashish Bagai, who along with overseas-based players John Davison and Ian Billcliff are aiming to become the only Canadians to appear in three World Cups, returned last week from Sri Lanka where he was playing club cricket after aggravating a knee injury.
"He suffered the injury against Kenya this summer and it started to bother him in Sri Lanka," said Dassanayake. "A doctor there told him the left knee ligament is torn and recommended surgery. We advised Ashish to return home immediately so that he could get the injury re-assessed here."
If fit, Bagai will attend a batting camp for Associate countries preparing for the next World Cup at the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre in South Africa November 16-23. The national skipper will be in the republic anyway as Associate captains and coaches have been invited to attend the camp. The other Canadian participants in the batting camp are Cheema and national youth players Hiral Patel and Nitish Kumar.
The seven players contracted by Cricket Canada have been offered opportunities to play for overseas clubs during the winter.
Medium pacer Harvir Baidwan is already in Sri Lanka where Henry Osinde and Rizwan Cheema - who was in South Africa two weeks ago for the sixth LG/ICC awards ceremony - will join him later this month.
Cheema was nominated for the ICC Associate Player of the Year award which was won by Ireland's captain, William Porterfield.
Umar Bhatti left for Pakistan yesterday to join Khurram Chohan while former captain Sunil Dhaniram will head to Guyana to play for Everest Cricket Club.
The players are expected back home in December to prepare for a one-month camp in Colombo, Sri Lanka, starting on January 4 prior to the ICC Twenty/20 World Cup qualifier in Dubai February 9-13.
Canada is in "Group "B" with The Netherlands, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates while Group "A" comprises Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan and the United States.
The top two teams will join the ICC 10 Full members Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, England and India in the third biennial championship from April 30 to May 16 in Guyana, St. Lucia and Barbados.
Fall cricket camp targets youth development -- Posted Wednesday, October 14 2009
Coaches Anthony Pratt (Cricket Australia Level 2 accredited coach and Lawrence Bill England Cricket Board Level 2 accredited coach) have teamed up to form Ashes sport who will be offering a training camp at quasra sports this autumn. They state "The aim of the camp is to deliver a high quality of coaching in a fun, enjoyable and interactive environment to cricketers of all abilities. We hope that our efforts will help identify talented junior cricketers and help take their games to the next level."
for more information Phone: 289-337-9567 (Anthony) 647-377-4207(Lawrence) after 5pm
or
Email: ashessport@hotmail.com
Albion Cricket Club lift Under-19 Cricket Champions Shield (media release) -- Posted Wednesday, October 14 2009
Albion Cricket Club lifted the Cricket Champions Shield Sunday October 11 at York University Stadium defeating OCA Heroes. Cricket Champions League is Canada's first and only Under-19 Cricket League.
The Cricket Champions League that commenced in June 2009, had eight teams participating and played a total of 35 matches in 2009.
Long-Term Athlete Development coupled with High Performance development strategies are a pioneering effort in helping junior players develop skills to excel in the game of Cricket. The Cricket Champions League has provided focus on the need for junior development programmes as a way to develop players to represent Canada.
Scotiabank is the prime sponsor of the Cricket Champions League.
Cricket Alberta Seeks Executive Director -- Posted Friday, October 9 2009
Cricket Alberta, the not-for-profit governing provincial sports organization for cricket in Alberta, seeks to fill the position of Executive Director.
Reporting to Cricket Alberta’s (CA) Executive via the President, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
• Develop private and corporate partnership opportunities to fund CA initiatives.
• Develop grant applications at both municipal and provincial levels.
• Carry out CA's day-to-day operations from CA's primary office.
• Assist CA executive to develop strategic and operational plans for Board approval.
• Assist regional bodies in the administration and implementation of provincial development programs including the following :
Schools, Junior, Women's Cricket.
Player, Team, and League Registration.
• Assist CA Treasurer with financial reporting and budgeting.
• Liase with municipal, provincial, and federal governments as a representative of CA.
• Ensure effective communication with regional membership, local and national media, and governing sport bodies through news releases and website.
• Coordinate logistics and public relationsfor all events within the CA programme including :
Inter-City matches, Tournaments, CA banquet, China Rose Cup.
The successful candidate will excel in the following areas:
• Leadership: Ability to develop and direct performance of others to achieve desired results. This
should include effective management of a volunteer based operational team.
• Communication: Ability to speak, write, listen, and secure information in a variety of settings.
Candidate must be fluent in English
• Self-Management: Ability to direct personal performance to achieve desired results. Ability to
work with different personality types and keep a positive attitude.
• Teamwork: Ability to work effectively with others to achieve optimal collective results.
• Values Diversity: Appreciates that people with different opinions, backgrounds and characteristics bring richness to the challenge or situation at hand.
• Commitment to Health and Safety: Acknowledges and understands how to manage and educate others of risk andmanagement of harm reduction.
• Information Technology: Appreciates the learning opportunity in sharing information and effectively utilizes available information technology. Candidate must be computer literate in all frequently used office software
A post-secondary education in business administration, accounting, sports management, or related areas is preferred.
Compensation for this renewable 16 month contractual position is based on the experience and qualification of the successful candidate.
Please forward all applications including cover letter and resume toacacricket@gmail.comno later than
Friday October 30th, 2009.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Friday November 6th, 2009.
Please note that sucessful candidates will be subject to background screening suitable for the Vulnerable
Sector. Alberta Cricket is an equal opportunity employer.
Cricket Alberta Seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) to Develop Cricket Turf Pitches -- Posted Friday, October 9 2009
Thursday October 1st, 2009 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Cricket Alberta seeks Expressions of Interest (EIO's) to Develop Cricket Turf Pitches in Alberta. Consultants will participate in Cricket Alberta's Facility Upgrade Project with the following specific responsibilities in turf
development:
To develop a 6 strip turf pitch plus 2 side practice strips in Edmonton.
To develop a 6 strip turf pitch plus 2 side practice strips in Calgary.
To develop a 2 strip practice strip in Calgary.
To assist in identifying a suitable soil type and turf seed for this region.
To assist in identifying a suitable general contractor to perform required construction.
Oversee all required construction services and trades.
To Identify, train, and mentor local groundsman.
Preference will be given to consultants with experience in construction, maintenance, and match preparation of international grade, one and multi-day pitches.
Please forward all expression of interest letters outlining relevant experience to acacricket@gmail.com no later than Wednesday October 7th, 2009. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Friday October 9th, 2009 .
Please note that sucessful candidates will be subject to background screening suitable for the Vulnerable Sector. Alberta Cricket is an equal opportunity employer.
Canadian Cricket Culture (canadaimmigrant.ca) -- Posted Friday, October 9 2009
http://canadianimmigrant.ca/culture/ethnictraditions/article/5474
Cricket culture
David Martin
Twice each week, Amreek Singh travels to Rideau Hall, the residence of Canada’s Governor General. For someone who has lived in Canada for only four and a half years, this seems impressive. However, Singh is not going to visit Michaëlle Jean — he was there to play on the cricket pitch on the grounds there. It's here that Singh rediscovered the game he played growing up in India.
Singh moved to Ottawa in February 2005 from Faridabad, India, where he had been studying after growing up in a rural area nearby. Arriving at the young age of 17, Singh didn’t know a soul in Canada, making his first few months of settlement difficult.
Singh took up the Mechanical Tool Technician Program at Algonquin College, a program he had commenced at the Indo-Canadian School of Advanced Technology in Faridabad. He completed his course in 2006 and then found work machining parts for the automotive, aerospace and medical industries.
“I work as a CNC — a computer numerically controlled operator and programmer,” Singh explains.
Like many immigrants, though, Singh needed more than work to help him connect with his new Canadian community. So it was to his great delight, and surprise, that he discovered cricket was being played in Ottawa. Once his first Canadian summer arrived, Singh made his way to Rideau Hall, picked up a bat and started playing for the Defence Cricket Club.
Connecting with other Canadians through cricket
When asked how Canadian-born friends react on hearing where he plays his favourite sport, Singh explains, “They want to know more — they aren’t aware there is cricket at the Governor General’s residence.” But will they play it? Maybe not just yet. “Most of them think it’s very complicated. Also summers are very short.”
Ottawa’s fickle summers don’t deter Singh, however. “It’s really enjoyable playing cricket here. It gives you an opportunity to become a part of this little community. Most of the people are immigrants from India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and West Indies,” he explains.
In Singh’s view, playing the game in Canada’s capital is even better than playing it in India. He explains: “Rideau Hall is one of the best cricket grounds. Compared to where I grew up, we didn’t have a ground that big. Definitely it’s more fun playing here.”
Cricket’s role as a game that brings people together is something Singh sees as typically Canadian. “I feel that I fit in here, because of the diversity of people. People from all over the world are living in Canada without any major problems," he says.
"There is no racism here and I fit in like any other Canadian. Also I respect this country for all the things it has given me in my life: a great education and great job opportunity, as well as cricket.”
For young immigrants arriving in Canada like he did, Singh offers this advice: “Be in touch with your community, be open-minded and make lots of friends.”
Cricket seems a wonderful way to do just that. After all, as Singh says, there’s more to it than just a bat and ball. “It’s not just a game” — it’s a huge part of many immigrants’ lives.
OICA Cricket League looks for teams -- Posted Thursday, October 8 2009
The Ontario Indoor Cricket Association is open for registration
Timed games 75 minunte
12 Overs per team
16 Teams - 4 group
9 Games guaranteed
Umpires & Balls Supplied
9-a-side, max 15 players/team
OICA Cricket League
OICA is a Non-Profit Organization
$1,000 team fee
See their web site for more information
Cricket Champions League Under-19 Tournament Final this weekend -- Posted Wednesday, October 7 2009
The Cricket Champions League Under-19 Tournament Final match will be held at York University Stadium on Sunday Oct. 11 from 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free.
The opening match of the day, before the Final game, will be an Exhibition Challenge Match between the Ontario Womens XI and the Ontario Veterans XI. The Ontario Veterans XI is likely to feature amongst former players, Councillor Adam Vaughan from Toronto.
The Under-19 Final will feature top talent that is expected to knock on the doors of the Canadian National Team in years to come. Scotiabank is the prime sponsor of the Cricket Champions League Under-19 Tournament.
Canada’s Baidwan has successful debut in Sri Lankan Premier Division Cricket -- Posted Sunday, October 4 2009
(Toronto/Columbo, Oct 4): Eddie Norfolk
Canadian international Harvir Singh Baidwan had a successful debut for Colts Cricket Club in the Sri Lankan first class Premier Division. Colts pulled off an eight wicket win over Ragama CC in Columbo on Sunday (Oct 4). Baidwan took 4 wickets for 17 runs from 11.5 overs in the Ragama first innings of 117 all out. Colts declared its first innings at 277 for six wickets, then bowled out Ragama for 232 in Sunday’s second innings. Colts batsmen hit out to complete a victory on the third of four scheduled days play.
The 22-year old Baidwan has played in 11 ODIs for Canada and is in Sri Lanka to gain experience of South Asian playing conditions ahead of Canada’s scheduled appearance on the sub-continent in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. This match was his debut in first-class cricket. He did not bat in either of Colts innings against Ragama.
Ragama included Canadian captain and wicketkeeper/batsman Ashish Bagai. The 27-year old Bagai has played in 10 first class ICC Intercontinental Cup and 43 ODI matches for Canada. Bagai made just 9 runs in the first innings and 4 in the second.
This match was in the first round of matches in this season’s Sri Lankan first class Premier Division. The competition continues until the end of December.
Scoring summary for match played at Colts Club, Columbo (Oct 2 – 4):
Ragama C.C. 117 all out and 232 all out
Colts C.C. 277 for 6 wickets declared and 74 for 2 wickets
Result: Colts won by 8 wickets.
=====Some background comments from Baidwan’s departure to Columbo====
Harvir Baidwan, said before departing for Columbo, that his aim was to work with from Colts captain Chaminder Vaas and other pace bowlers to “learn the tricks”.
He was “looking forward to it, especially as things are different on the sub-continent. Things are very hard for the bowlers, especially the pace-bowlers. So I’m looking forward to it, getting all the experience which he (Vaas) has, and focussing on the World Cup.”
Baidwan added, “the good thing about it for pace bowlers (is) it’s really hard, especially in the sub-continent. Like I said, you have to learn something new. You have to be dead-on with the subcontinent’s wickets.”
“Nowadays it’s a batsman’s game. That’s why it’s very hard for the bowlers. Working with Chaminder Vaas, it’s going to be amazing stuff. Getting all the tips, whatever he has for me. ”
Baidwan’s short term dream was “ playing for his (Vaas’) team and making his team win the tournament”. Baidwan has begun successfully with his four first innings wickets for 17 runs that helped put Colts on the path to victory on his debut.
Chaminder Vaas has played in 111 test matches and 321 ODIs for Sri Lanka.
** Bagai and Baidwan travelled together to Sri Lanka. Bagai made his international debut for Canada at Under-15 level. He was born in Delhi, India. Baidwan was born in Chandigarh, Pubjab, India.
CIMA Mayor’s Trophy shared as lightning, thunder and hail halt final -- Posted Sunday, October 4 2009
RBC and Toronto share CIMA Mayor’s trophy:
Toronto Sun wins Media event
The CIMA Celebration of Cricket played through some rain showers and what limited sun emerged through the clouds at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Park on Saturday (Oct 3), but the final of the CIMA Mayor’s Trophy was abandoned as lightning and thunder brought heavy rain and some hail.
The Toronto Police team made 29 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in 3 overs, but the second or third flash of lightning saw the players head for the pavilion when Royal Bank (RBC) Police had scored 3 runs off 3 balls without losing a wicket. The light had been fading, but the skies reached a peak of brightest after the indoor presentation of the major trophies had ended. But it was too wet to consider resuming play.
The Toronto Sun won bragging rights in the CIMA Media Trophy, beating rival Toronto Star in a 3-overs a side playoff. A four-team playoff for the Mayor’s Trophy then followed, with RBC (21 for 2 wkts, 2.3 overs) beating the Toronto Star (17 for 4 wkts, 3 overs), and Toronto Police (34 for 1, 3 overs) beating the Toronto Sun (22 for 2 wkts). These semi-finals pitted the winners from the corporate and public sector matches played on two of the three cricket grounds at Sunnybrook with the top two from the media section. Earlier matches were played as 5-overs a side.
Possibly the bravery award for the day should go to the women from the Cricket Ontario Development Program. The players, including some Canadian internationals, opened the day’s CIMA Celebration of Cricket event with a demonstration match at 8am. A wet outfield would not be uncommon for the women, who, just like many of the male junior cricketers, have to battle for playing space and times. Junior cricket in the Greater Toronto Area often begins early, typically with 9 am starts when outfields are sometimes wet with morning dew, or even from rain.
The event had been re-scheduled after being hit by the Toronto City workers industrial dispute back in June. The CIMA Accountants trophy had apparently been played between various firms of public accountants some time during the summer. KPMG was presented with the trophy during the opening ceremonies.
The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) won the Inter-Transit Trophy, as well as the Spirit of Cricket Award.
Impressive participants turnout
It was impressive to see that almost all the teams due to play in the original tournament turned out, as Friday had seen a lot of rain. In welcoming participants, sponsors and partners to this cricket festival, Toronto Mayor David Miller gave special mention to the inclusion of women’s cricket, the efforts of Councillor Susan Hall to secure funding for a new cricket ground on the Toronto/Vaughan boundary to support the thriving cricket-interested communities of North Etobicoke, and to RBC and Transat Holidays as lead sponsors of the Cricket Across the Pond initiative.
This year saw the second “Cricket Across the Pond” trip to Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, England, by a team representing the City of Toronto. The touring side included many players from priority neighbourhoods within the city, and is a project of great interest to Toronto Community Housing.
Darius D’Souza, captain of the inaugural 2008 Toronto Mayor’s touring team, was man-of-the-match for the Canadian Under-19 team that recently beat the USA U19’s during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup qualifying competition. Harik Kotak, a member of the 2009 Toronto Mayor’s touring team, also represented Canada U19’s in that event. Canada qualified to play in the 2010 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, hosted by New Zealand.
Mayor Miller praised the efforts of CIMA, who have worked with the City’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division since 2005 to promote cricket within the city, and the Toronto Police. The CIMA celebration of cricket has gained wide support from the media, the corporate world and from the public sector since inception.
A steel band lead the Mayor’s and CEO’s teams onto the field for the opening celebration game. Miller pointed out “the unique Canadian flavour of a Caribbean steel band with a couple of them wearing toques.” Miller’s side scored 38 runs in 5 overs. The UK Consul General batted during a heavy shower, and Philip Crawley, publisher of the Globe and Mail, hit the winning run for the CEO’s team. A fitting end as he was the captain.
Eddie Norfolk
“Come rain or shine”, the CIMA Celebration of Cricket will go ahead! -- Posted Saturday, October 3 2009
Toronto – Friday Oct 2, 2009: Eddie Norfolk
Saturday’s (Oct 3) CIMA* Celebration of Cricket/Toronto Mayor’s Trophy will, I was assured by leading lights from the City of Toronto Parks, Recreation and Forestry on Friday afternoon, go ahead “come rain or shine.” Even diplomatic sources might have suggested it was a touch damp on Friday in the Greater Toronto Area, but the show will go on at Sunnybrook Park. Forget the clouds with drops of water shown on the weather forecast for Saturday, and come, appropriately attired, for the cricket.
The day’s itinerary begins at 8 am with a cricket demonstration from the Ontario Women’s Cricket Development Program. Opening ceremonies are due at 9am, and include a ceremonial game between the Public Sector – Mayor’s XI, captained by Toronto Mayor David Miller, and the Private Sector – CEO’s XI, captained by Globe and Mail Publisher Phillip Crawley. Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair is due to be in the Public Sector team.
Three trophies will be up for grabs in what are expected to be 5-overs a side games involving teams from the corporate, public accountants and media. Teams from Deloitte, Ernst and Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) will play for the CIMA Accountants Trophy. The CIMA Media Trophy is due to be contested by teams from the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, ATN (Asian Television Network), CP24, CBC, Citytv and OMNI TV.
The CIMA Mayor’s Trophy has teams representing RBC (Royal Bank of Canada), Bell, Rogers, Toronto Police, GO Transit, the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and Bombardier.
The participating teams tend to head the list of event sponsors and partners, although there are some additional sponsors and partners, some who support the Cricket Across the Pond community initiative for youth from diverse neighbourhoods to gain from taking part in a cricket trip to England. This scheme was introduced in 2008 and repeated in 2009 with Chessington Cricket Club in Surrey, England, as the focal point. Chessington is in the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.
This year, 2009, is the 175th anniversary of the founding of the City of Toronto, and is also the 150th anniversary of the first overseas cricket tour by a team of English Professionals who came to Canada and the USA in 1859.
The founding of Toronto seems to coincide with 1834, the year for which some details are available of a cricket match between Guelph and Toronto played at Hamilton, Ontario. Guelph made 104 all out; seemingly the first scoring information on an actual game in Canada.
George Parr’s XI beat the twenty-two of Lower Canada by 8 wickets in a two-innings per side match played in Montreal (Sept 24, 26 & 27, 1859) and later beat the twenty-two of Upper Canada in Hamilton by ten wickets (Oct 16, 17 & 18). George Parr took 10 wickets for 19 runs in the Lower Canada second innings. John Wisden, who later founded the Wisden Cricketers Almanac, took 14 wickets for 24 runs in the Upper Canada second innings.
The George Parr XI completed its tour with a victory by an innings and 70 runs against a combined twenty-two of Canada and the USA at Rochester, New York (Oct 21, 24 & 25). Wisden took 16 wickets for 18 runs in the first innings, and 13 for 44 runs in the second.
But with Canada having qualified for the senior Cricket World Cup in 2011, and both the Canadian and US Under-19 teams having qualified for the 2010 U19 CWC in New Zealand, it is time to look ahead with hope for cricket on the American mainland. After all, that is where international cricket began back in September 1844. But there is a lot of work needed to bring cricketing infrastructure, finances, promotion and development up to a reasonable standard to support the growth of the game in the Americas.
Something the 1859 tourists noticed, especially with respect to cricket in Canada!
Parr's side also noted one day when snow and extreme cold meant no play was possible. No snow is expected on Saturday in Toronto. Perhaps there will be a ray or two of sunshine?
* CIMA is the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, claiming over 160,000 members and students in some 162 countries. CIMA encourages its members and students to participate in community events. In Toronto, the CIMA Celebration of Cricket/Mayor’s Trophy is one of the headline events of the year.
Chandra Gocool is Cricket Canada’s new CEO (Share) -- Posted Friday, October 2 2009
By RON FANFAIR
Cricket Canada has appointed a former Ontario government bureaucrat and Toronto club cricketer to carry out its strategic plans and policies as established by the board of directors.
Chandra Gocool is the new chief executive officer, replacing Atul Ahuja who was fired last January.
Gocool has worked with the provincial government as a senior manager of the sport and recreation program and as a sport consultant with a number of provincial sports organizations in many sports development initiatives, including organizational and athlete development.
He took early retirement in 1998 and launched his own company that advised organizations in Ontario on the procedures involved in applying for provincial funding. He later returned to work for the Ontario government part-time as a consultant for four years up until 2007.
The former Overseas Cricket Club representative, who also played soccer and table tennis and refereed in the Ontario Soccer League, said he's looking forward to the challenge of helping to develop cricket across Canada.
"I chose to apply for this job because I have been involved in sport both as a player and administrator for many years and I saw a window of opportunity where I could use my experience, knowledge and skills to develop the sport," he said. "Our junior and senior teams have qualified for the next World Cup tournaments, so I would say the future looks bright. There is however the challenge of trying to get more kids involved in the sport and also players who are past their prime to give back something to the game as coaches, umpires or volunteers in other capacities.
"I gained a lot from cricket and I want to now use my resources to give back something by creating visibility and credibility for the sport and allowing people to know that there are benefits that can be accrued from their association with Cricket Canada...Together, we can develop a synergy that can move the sport forward for the betterment of the game and for the enjoyment and satisfaction of all those who participate."
The Trinidad & Tobago-born Gocool attended Irie High School and served as an administrator with the Texaco Forest Reserve club and the Wes Hall Youth League before coming to Canada in 1970.
"Shortly after my arrival, I was travelling in a bus when I noticed some guys on a field dressed in white clothing," he said. "At the time, I was not even aware that they played the sport here but I decided to jump off the bus at the next stop and check out who were these people running around the field."
It turned out to be Overseas practicing and Gocool immediately joined the Toronto & District Cricket Association club, starting a fruitful association as a player for 19 years, sports director and vice-president. He also acquired Level Two Umpire Certification.
Gocool worked at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as a forest chemical technologist for 14 years up until 1984 before pursuing Public and Sports Administration Studies at York University.
He was responsible for the implementation of the provincial government's policy titled, "Full and Fair Access for Women and Girls in Sport and Physical Activity", aimed at increasing the participation opportunities for females in a harassment-free environment. In addition, Gocool represented federal and provincial interests in the implementation of the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure program directed at the construction and renovation of sports, culture and tourism facilities.
He also worked with the provincial Olympic secretariat in conjunction with the federal government to manage the financial investment in the early stages of Toronto's bid for the 1996 Olympics that went to Atlanta.
Cricket Canada's interim president, Ranjit Saini, is excited about Gocool's appointment.
"It is time to build on all our successes and ensure that Canadian cricket is strong and Cricket Canada is a vibrant and viable organization," he said. "Chandra's task will not be a small one, but we have full confidence in him to lead the organization to new heights."
Gocool has signed a two-year contract with Cricket Canada.
Andy Pick returning to Toronto in ICC job; Canadians head overseas (Share) -- Posted Friday, October 2 2009
By RON FANFAIR
A familiar face is coming back to Toronto to be engaged in the development of cricket.
Former Canadian coach Andy Pick has been appointed the International Cricket Council (ICC) Development Performance Officer for the Americas. He will assume his new role on October 15.
Pick, who was in the city last week for meetings with ICC Americas Region manager, Martin Vieira, to whom he will report, will be responsible for the management, planning and implementation of a wide variety of programs aimed at assisting the continued growth, development and improvement of cricket within the Americas region's 17 members countries.
His areas of focus will include elite cricket education, including player and coach development, the implementation of advanced development pathways from the junior to elite level and managing targeted performance through country development plans.
As part of his high performance/elite development tasks, Pick - among other things - is required to co-ordinate a database of high performance centres/academies globally for access by regional countries in the ICC High Performance program and World Cricket League and support the planning and coordination of national squad training camps in the more developed countries.
He is expected to work closely with the coaches preparing the Canadian and American squads for the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand next January.
A former Nottinghamshire and England "A" medium-pacer, Pick is a lead tutor, assessor and mentor on the English and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) National Coaching Scheme and an England Under-19 selector and head coach.
He replaced Dominican-born Phil DeFreitas as the Notts bowling coach last February.
Pick was appointed the Canadian team's coach in March 2006 in its build up to the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies where the national side bounced back from a disappointing loss to Kenya to post creditable performances against England and New Zealand in St. Lucia.
Though he officially stepped down as Canada's coach after the World Cup when his contract expired, Pick agreed to coach the side in the Intercontinental Cup final against Ireland in May 2007.
Pick's was one of three ICC Americas staffing positions filled recently. Former Barbados and West Indies youth player, Wendell Coppin, is the new Regional Development Officer based in Barbados while Kelly Hunter replaces Natasha Walcott as the Regional Project Officer based in Toronto.
Walcott resigned last March after just five months in the position to return to the federal government where she worked for eight years with the Canada Border Services Agency.
Coppin, a former teacher, is currently employed as a West Indies Cricket Board territorial officer and a tutor on WICB Level One and Two courses.
He played one game for Hampshire's Second XI and made a sole one-day appearance for Norfolk in the 1999 Nat West Trophy competition.
Hunter is a graduate of Brock University with a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management.
Meanwhile, Canada's contracted players are preparing for next year's World Cup Twenty/20 qualifier in the United Arab Emirates through short-term overseas assignments during the winter.
Skipper and wicketkeeper, Ashish Bagai and medium pacer, Harvir Baidwan, are playing club cricket in Sri Lanka where fellow medium pacers Henry Osinde and Umar Bhatti will join them later this month.
All-rounder Khurram Chohan is in Pakistan while former national skipper Sunil Dhaniram is expected to return to his native Guyana.
Canada, along with host country the UAE, Ireland, Kenya, The Netherlands, Afghanistan, Scotland and the United States, will take part in the qualifier. The top two sides will join the ICC's 10 Full members in the global Twenty/20 competition next April and May in Barbados, St. Lucia and Guyana.
Toronto and District Cricket Association Playoffs Continue to Oct 10th -- Posted Friday, October 2 2009
Although Popeyes won the Elite Division playoffs a couple of weeks ago, playoffs in the lower divisions of the Toronto & District Cricket Association continue this weekend (Oct 3 &4) and the Final of Division Two is even set for Saturday October 10th.
Islanders and Popeyes seem set for the Division One Final this Saturday, as is the Division Four Final between Ghaznavi and T Cheetahs. Division Three is due to wrap-up on Sunday when St Edmunds B will meet the winners of a semi-final being played on Saturday.
The Premier Division was won by Yorkshire. Winners of the Junior competitions have now been posted on the TDCA website. Most of the Finals clashed with the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, so I failed to see any of those playoffs, but congratulations go to Overseas (U19 winners), Cavaliers (U17 winners), Ontario Cricket Academy (U15 winners) and Markham Cricket Academy (U13 winners).
I see that the Maple Leaf Cricket Club has invited TDCA clubs to enter a special season-ending T20 competition on the weekend of October 10 and 11. It is an end-of-season thank you from the ground management, who worked very hard this year in the face of some major challenges.
Enjoy your cricket,
Eddie Norfolk
Baidwan impresses for Colts. -- Posted Friday, October 2 2009
Harvir Baidwan is playing for Colts in the Sri Lanka first class competition. He took an impressive 4-16 in 11.5 overs in Ragama CC's fist innings. he was less successful in the 2nd innings, wicketless in 5 overs. Asish Bagai was playing for the opposition and made 9 and 4, but did not concede a bye on Colts 277. (CricInfo scorecard)
Canadian Commonwealth (CCCAT) wraps up this weekend in Toronto -- Posted Friday, October 2 2009
The Canadian Commonwealth Cricket Association of Toronto (CCCAT) wraps up the 2009 season this weekend with semi-finals on Saturday (Oct 3) in the Premier and First Divisions, followed by Finals on Sunday (Oct 4).
On Saturday, Raiders and Apollo meet in the outstanding Premier Division semi-final at Keele Top ground (corner of Steeles Ave West and Keele Street, North York/Toronto). The winner plays Indo-Pak, victors over Stallions in a previously completed semi-final, in Sunday’s final at Keele Top.
Saturday also sees the Division One semi-finals, with Titans meeting regular-season champions MCC at the Keele South ground, and Ittehad playing Suhail at Norfinch. Sunday’s final is scheduled for the Keele South ground, which is part of the Keele Reservoir grounds, located at the corner of Keele St and Steeles Ave West.
CCAT Champions for 2009
Elite Division – Regular Season: Brampton Masters CC
Playoffs: Wanderers (beat Indo-Pak in final)
Premier Division – Regular Season: Apollo
Playoffs: Final is on Sunday
Division One - Regular Season: MCC
Playoffs: Final is on Sunday
Division Two – Regular Season: Apollo-Heritage
Playoffs: Amesbury
T20 - Winners: Islanders
Runner-up Apollo
Sunrise Browne double-winners in Southern Ontario -- Posted Friday, October 2 2009
Sunrise Browne has won both the 45-over and T20 2009 playoffs in the Southern Ontario Cricket Association.
Sunrise Browne made a winning 205 for eight wickets in a match reduced by rain to 38-overs, batting first against Windsor-based Cavaliers at Waterloo Park. Details of the scores are not known. In the semi-finals, Cavaliers had a default win over Kaiteur, while Browne beat Sunrise Onkar. The Sunrise and Kaituer cricket clubs are base in Waterloo, Ontario.
In the T20 playoffs, Sunrise Onkar beat Cavalaiers and Sunrise Browne had a default win against Kaiteur in the semi-finals. Sunrise Browne then beat Onkar in the final.
Porterfield named Associate Player of the Year (CricInfo) -- Posted Friday, October 2 2009
Ireland captain William Porterfield has been named the ICC Associate Player of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in Johannesburg.
The voting academy chose Porterfield over other top Associate players including Canada's Rizwan Cheema and the Netherlands duo of Edgar Schiferli and last year's winner of this award Ryan ten Doeschate.
During the 12-month voting period, Porterfield played for Ireland in 11 ODIs making two centuries and two half-centuries. His batting average was 46.80 with a strike rate of 77.10. As captain he also led Ireland to nine victories in those 11 matches.
In the four ICC Intercontinental Cup fixtures played during the voting period, Porterfield averaged 38.14 with the bat, scoring one century and one half-century.
Porterfield, 25, also led Ireland to the Super Eight stage of the ICC World Twenty20 this year and helped it to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011 after winning the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in South Africa in April.
Upon collecting his award in Porterfield said: "It's been a fantastic year for us. This award caps it off on a personal note but it's great for the team to be going to the World Cup having won the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier early this year.
"This award is great for Irish cricket and it shows how much we have done on the field. If we continue onwards and keep on making improvements in that department then other awards will follow."
The Associate Player of the Year Award was one of eight individual prizes given at this year's LG ICC Awards. It was announced by Charlotte Edwards, last year's ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year.
The Associate Player of the Year award serves to recognise and reward the efforts in all international matches of the outstanding cricketers from the teams outside the ICC Full Members.
In Canada to stay (Observer, Uganda) -- Posted Thursday, October 1 2009
Written by John Vianney Nsimbe
Three weeks after the disappearance of their sons in Canada after the Under-19 Cricket World Cup qualifiers, the parents of Emmanuel Nakaana, Ahmed Yakoub, Ahmed Sangau, Andrew Ochan, Moses Okwera, Geoffrey Nyero and Michael Abala seem to be anything but worried as JOHN VIANNEY NSIMBE found out
On this warm evening of September 27, the sun is setting at Naguru Remand II zone, one of Kampala’s poorest areas but just a stone-throw away from rich suburb of Naguru Hill. Conspicuous on the main road is the big number of goats returning to their shelters with bulged up tummies after a day’s feast on the grass. In this densely populated area, humans and goats mix freely. It’s the kind of area where people move about freely in towels, as they make it to the bathroom.
PARENTS IN HIGH SPIRITS
On the other hand, Ibrahim Yakoub, an elderly man sporting a grey beard was standing by a shop, watching as dusk set in. He’s wearing a long-sleeved shirt, has tied a wrapper covering his lower body like a skirt and is munching on groundnuts he had bought from a young boy carrying them in a basket.
Yakoub is overly relaxed in spite of the fact that his son, Ahmed Yakoub, captain of the Under-19 national cricket team, is among the seven cricketers that disappeared.
It’s common knowledge that many Ugandans would die to secure a visa to any country in the developed world. Therefore, could it be that the parents were in conformity with their sons’ next move of attempting to improve their livelihood?
Yakoub denies ever discussing with his son about staying in Canada. “The only thing I did was sign his papers from UCA seeking his release to represent the country. I was also in shock to learn that he hadn’t returned. You can never know what goes through one’s mind including that of your own child”.
Although Yakoub adds that he hasn’t received a call from his AWOL son, it’s interesting to know that he’s not worried and seemed at peace as though he has landed a jackpot.
He says, “I don’t know what to feel because I don’t know what he’s up to; whether he’s fine or not. I’m just waiting for UCA officials to come and tell me about my son’s whereabouts.”
But one of Yakoub’s teammates who returned from Canada said that Yakoub warmly received his son’s belongings he left behind after vanishing.
Meanwhile, friends of Sangau, another player who remained in Canada told me that his father was in jovial mood on Eid day, September 20. Not only was he celebrating the end of the month of Ramathan but he was also boasting that his son was going to be rich and change their lives. Sangau’s home is by the roadside in Remand II zone too. It’s a mud plastered shack without a veranda or shade.
For a player like Nyero, his mother is a cleaner at the National Council of Sports headquarters, which is in the same sports complex where he learnt to play cricket. She was in tearful mood when the boy was leaving for Canada but not when her son didn’t return. It seems she had been bidding him farewell.
However, Sangau’s mother Mariam diverted a bit from those views. She said that never in her right mind could she ever conspire to let her son run away from his team. “He’s young and we don’t know how he’s living on his own in a foreign land. We are worried but calm since he called us recently to assure us that he’s okay.”
MEAGER EARNINGS
After sampling the moods of parents, it’s easy to see why the boys extended their Canadian invitation;
Notably, most of these players that didn’t return hail from the shanty areas of Naguru and Nakawa. Their backgrounds are meek and their colleagues told me that disappearing was inevitable.
One said, “A boy is paid only Shs 10,000 per week by his cricket club. Why wouldn’t he escape?” Furthermore, even for this cricket tour, each player was given $200 (Shs 400,000) in allowances.
So, maybe UCA has much to do to improve the earnings in cricket to keep players put. This would surely not pay Sangau’s University fees. He completed senior six in 2008 and although he had secured a position at Makerere University Business School, his mother says the family had failed to secure money for his fees.
POOR EDUCATION BACKGROUND
Okwera is an orphan and has struggled through life. He was due to complete Senior Six this December according to his brother Stanley Atona. Ahmed Yakub dropped out of school in Senior Six two years ago. Nyero dropped out of school before Senior Four almost three years ago.
Ochan has been in Senior Five at Taibah School, Nakaana completed Senior Six last year at Makerere College while Abala is said to have dropped out in Senior Two a few years ago. It’s reported that actually these boys have settled in Canada and by the time their six months visa expires, they’ll have legalized their stay in Canada.
This compelled Stanley Atona, the elder brother of Okwera to ask, “I don’t understand the public panic. These boys were given a six months visa and they’ve only covered three weeks, so they are living in Canada legally.”
True, but at the 2007 ICC Division III World Cricket League, two national cricket team players went AWOL in Darwin, Australia. The two lads - Patrick Ochan and Jimmy Okello - have never returned home and it’s widely believed none of these seven will return before the expiry of their visa, save for a deportation.