By NOUMAN KHALIL
Canada’s dream of hosting the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2012 is now history, but a cricket fanatic is still in mourning and refusing to buy Cricket Canada’s pullout justifications.
Putting his life at risk, 72-year-old Pandit Basdeo Maharaj, president of Maple Leaf Cricket Club, claimed last week he was on a hunger strike to protest the pullout and to seek unity among all stakeholders for promoting the sport.
He said he’d started the fast April 28.
“I’m fasting because Cricket Canada refused to host the Under-19 World Cup, which would have been a step forward for the development of cricket not only in Canada but across North America,” said Maharaj while addressing a press conference at his residence in Toronto last week.
“This decision will damage the sport – we had too much time. Canada accepted ICC’s World Cup offer in early 2007, but the people who were involved didn’t do their homework,” said Maharaj.
Being a World Cup centre point under Maharaj’s management, Maple Leaf Cricket Club – the biggest in North America with at least five grounds – could have hosted the most number of matches if the trophy tourney had come to Canada.
Ranjit Saini, President of Cricket Canada, defended the decision and said the pullout was due to shortage of funds for infrastructure related costs.
Ends fast partially
After nine days of complete fasting, Maharaj said he partially ended the strike this week and started taking only liquids.
When asked if it’s possible for a human to live without food and water for nine days, Maharaj said: “I have done it.”
He added: “One day I will end this fast because I need to live and take care of my family, but my purpose is to draw attention that if we all work together, we can prove that Canada is capable of hosting bigger tournaments like the Under-19 World Cup in 2014.”
Maharaj blamed differences among the stakeholders responsible for the loss and vowed to continue his fast so that Canada doesn’t lose any other opportunity in future.
“I’m fasting hoping that the two main groups (OCA and Cricket Canada) will shun their differences and leave their egos behind, get together, lock themselves in a room, and come out with some concrete action so that we don’t lose these tournaments in the future,” said Maharaj.
He said he mentioned Cricket Canada-OCA differences because Ontario association is the biggest provincial governing body in Canada that produces the most number of national players; however, he added, unity across the board is necessary.
“Nobody is bigger than the game – people will come and go, but the game will remain there.
“Definitely someone is not doing his job and that person should walk away,” said Maharaj.
Both the national and provincial apex bodies continue to confront each other as they have for a long period now. But the differences boiled over when OCA offered to the ICC to host the World Cup, soon after Cricket Canada’s withdrawal.
While the tussle for power continues, the sport itself continues to languish: Canada is today behind even Afghanistan, where cricket has just recently been introduced.
Observers claim the morale of the Canadian team is so low it couldn’t even beat the local Jamaican team during its recent visit to the West Indies. In the last four months, Canada has lost 16 matches out of 18.
Cheema to lead team
Meanwhile Canadian batting sensation Rizwan Cheema is set to lead the national squad during the upcoming ICC America’s Division One Championship, scheduled to be played in Bermuda from May 28 to June 6.
Vice captain Cheema was promoted after skipper and leading batsman Ashish Bagai dropped out due to knee injury.
The 28-year-old Bagai will spend the next few weeks recuperating from his injury to make a comeback for the World Cricket League Division One in the Netherlands in July this year.
Ravin Moorthy, Cricket Canada’s manager, said Bagai has been playing through with an injured knee and unfortunately it has not improved much in the last three months.
Moorthy said he is being treated through intensive rehabilitation program and hoped he will be back in action soon.
TEAM: Rizwan Cheema (captain), Khurram Chohan (vice-captain), Harvir Baidwan, Trevin Bastiampillai, Umar Bhatti, Rustam Bhatti, Parth Desai, Sunil Dhaniram, Jimmy Hansra, Calvert Hooper, Sandeep Jyoti, Nitish Kumar, Usman Limbada and Zubin Surkari.