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15.03.02
Q & A with Mr. Errol Townshend, 2nd Vice-President, CCA
Q:
canadacricket.com has obtained two documents that you had presented
to the T&D at their 2002 AGM:
1. Concerning an Under-23 team in their Premier Division
2. Concerning a Victoria Day Weekend Cricket Festival
We have heard recently that the Proposal for the Under-23 team has been
accepted and they will play in the Premier Division. Could tell us a little
about the goal of this team, and if this idea will be used in the two
other major leagues in Canada, the British Columbia Mainland Cricket League
and the Quebec Federation League?
Also, we have
not heard much about the Victoria Day Long Weekend proposal and the possibilities
of fixtures with West Indies A, New Zealand and India. Could you please
update on each of these events?
A:
With respect to your questions, the CCA has not yet finalized plans for
the CCA Under -23 team's participation in the T&D Premier Division,
or the Cricket Festival, now scheduled tentatively for the Canada Day
Weekend not the Victoria Day Weekend, as originally hoped. When the loose
ends are tied up the information will be released.
While I am on the subject, I do acknowledge that the Cricket Festival
is my idea but the CCA Under 23 is NOT, as some of your posters have wrongly
asserted. My idea with respect to youth players was to have the T&D
make it mandatory for each Premier Club to have two Designated Youths
on their CLUB team for each game. The problem that my idea was intended
to deal with was the massive loss of young players after they represented
Canada in international youth competitions. This has been well documented
over the past 20 years and represents an enormous waste of money and effort
as we seek out,coach and provide competition in an effort to develop home
grown talent.
My idea was not
accepted by the powers that be. However the problem has persisted.
A few years ago,
while I was not involved with the administration of cricket, other persons
on the CCA sought to address the problem and came up with the idea of
an CCA Under 23 team. The idea was pushed and at one point I understand
it came close to fruition as the T&D actually drew up a schedule with
an CCA Under 23 team in it. However negotiations between the T&D and
the CCA broke down, for what reasons I do not really know.
When I rejoined the CCA last November this file came within my portfolio
as 2nd VP and I have now discharged my mandate to seek and gain acceptance
of this long standing proposal. Suffice to say, had my idea been accepted
when it was presented 15 years ago, a CCA Under 23 team would probably
not be needed now, as more than 20 top young players would be automatically
getting a chance to play at the highest level every weekend. Nor would
we likely have to be importing players.
As to whether
other provinces, such as Quebec or BC may wish to duplicate this idea,
it would be up to these provincial governing bodies to make the case that
this type of initiative is needed in their province. I do not know if
it is.
I fully agree
with your position that there needs to be more information flowing to
the cricket community and more transparency in the administration of the
game. I am trying to do that. But the process is not assisted by the posting
of wildly inaccurate information on your website and the non-stop imputation
of dishonourable motives to administrators who are simply trying to do
a job under the most difficult of financial circumstances.
I trust this provides some information and clarifies a few misconceptions.
As soon as more information is available I will endeavour to get it out
to the public.
Errol Townshend,
2nd VP CCA
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