By Nouman Khalil
Three weeks after the expulsion of Ontario Cricket Association (OCA) from Cricket Canada, the much-expected Cricket Council of Ontario (CCO) has come into existence as the province’s new governing body. According to a press release issued to Focus by a CCO representative, Cricket Canada has recognized CCO as the regulatory body for cricket in Ontario. It was however not clear how the decision was taken. There has been no official word or statement from Cricket Canada as at the time of filing this report. Leslie Soobrian of Commonwealth Cricket Association of Toronto has been named president of the new executive body, while Praim Persaud of Brampton-Etobicoke District Cricket Association has taken over as 1st Vice president.
“My team and I are extremely happy with this development. We are very excited at this opportunity to serve Ontario cricket,” says Soobrian. Apart from Soobrian and Persaud the CCO executive body comprises Moin Parekh (2nd Vice president), Moe Pirzada (3rd Vice president), Nasser Khan (general secretary), Tanveer Abdullah (treasurer), Rudy Lochan (asst secty/treas), Mohammed Shaikh (Cricket Canada delegate) and Danny Persaud (communications). Currently CCO has three Toronto-based members leagues: Toronto&District Cricket Association (T&DCA), Commonwealth Cricket Association of Toronto (CCAT) and Brampton-Etobicoke District Cricket Association (B-EDCL).