On behalf of myself and my family, Wishing you and your families A Very Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous 2011. May all your dreams come true and give you the joy and tranquility that your souls long for.
I will take a minute to reflect on 2010 from OCA perspective. It has been a year of accomplishments in some fields and disappointments in some others.
On the positive side, we have had tremendous growth as we have welcomed more members into the OCA family than ever before, including Maple Leaf Cricket Club and very recently North Toronto Cricket Association.
A practical, comprehensive and revised constitution has been adopted and a number of infrastructure projects have been completed throughout the province. That has resulted in improved playing conditions, thereby raising the level of play. The season ending OCA tournaments were a resounding success, with some nail biting and thrilling semis and finals. Women’s, juniors, umpiring, scoring and coaching levels have improved. All this sets up a great base for the success of 2011 to be built upon.
On the negative side, the main disappointment has been the relation between OCA and CC, which due to the political ambitions of certain people, deteriorated progressively. At a CC SAGM in Oct., the CC Directors voted OCA, a founding member of CC, out of the National body. The turning point in the on and off relationship of OCA and CC, came in the last AGM in Calgary, when the CC board sacked the entire selection committee and voted in a new selection committee in which, for possibly political reasons, voted in two members of the old committee that were just sacked citing their incompetence. On the same National selection committee, an Ontario selector was voted in without any input from the OCA by the CC Directors for visibly political reasons again, with a total disregard for our membership rights and privileges. It was challenged then and many times again.
When you are going to make appointments and fill positions for reasons other than the health of the game, the game will suffer. This morning I read an article on CricInfo and Canada Cricket On Line, where John Davison has severely criticised the CC and questioned the competence of CC National Selection Committee and its chair. I am not surprised.
Based on the above and other issues and following failure of our attempts to reconcile and come to terms with CC, the OCA was left with no choice but to knock on the door of Ontario justice system. A law suit has been filed against CC and is proceeding rapidly. You will be kept abreast of the developments as they become available.
I am looking forward to 2011 as I feel it will be a defining year in the history of Ontario Cricket. OCA officially represents Cricket in Ontario and will continue to do so no matter what anybody else professes and claims. We will continue to do what is ethical and right.
Once again, Best Wishes and may God bless you with a Happy and Healthy 2011.
Sincerely,
Mohan (Mike) Kendall,
Presdent, OCA.