13 OCA players to benefit from training camp in Dubai
OCA executives and members of the advisory board sit at their recent press conference. President Gulwant Bajwa is fifth from left while the Guyanese trio of treasurer/junior coordinator Vish Jadunauth, vice-president Bisham Singh and secretary Azad Khan are at left.
OCA executives and members of the advisory board sit at their recent press conference. President Gulwant Bajwa is fifth from left while the Guyanese trio of treasurer/junior coordinator Vish Jadunauth, vice-president Bisham Singh and secretary Azad Khan are at left.

TORONTO, Canada – Thirteen young cricketers, under the aegis of the Ontario Cricket Association (OCA), are to benefit from a week-long training camp, set to be held in Dubai in May, compliments of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Global Cricket Academy.The camp, to be conducted by former Pakistan opening batsman Mudassar Nazar, will also comprise three matches at the Dubai Oval.

An ebullient OCA president Gulwant Bajwa made the disclosure here last Saturday when the OCA held a press conference at the Spicy Shack Restaurant in Scarborough.
According to Bajwa, who was flanked by several of his executives who included Guyanese Bisham Singh (second vice-president, Azad Khan (secretary) and Vish Jadunauth (treasurer/junior coordinator) as well as members of his advisory board, the aspiring participants will be involved in a selection camp and the top 13 will be selected based purely on performance.
The unique and first-ever training camp of this nature will be offered through the OCA to cricketers under the age of 25 who are the best prospects to represent Canada in the near future. And according to Bajwa, “This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of budding players to train and play at the ICC Oval in Dubai.
The camp will focus mainly on improving batting and bowling skills, fielding, physical fitness which includes bio-mechanics, mental preparedness, technical analysis and strategy.
The OCA, which was formed in 1949 and incorporated in 1977, is responsible for managing administering, growth and development of cricket in the province of Ontario with special emphasis on the development of youth cricket from the grassroots level.
It also aims to foster relationship among its member leagues and invites other non-member leagues to partner and become members.
At Saturday’s press briefing, the OCA noted with much regret that Canada had lost its Associate Member status in the ICC to Affiliate Member, resulting in the country losing One-day International status. It also disclosed that Canada had been relegated to Division Three. In this regard, the OCA has set up what it termed a dynamic advisory board which is being chaired by Khalid Usman.
According to the terms of the advisory board, for cricket to continue growth in Canada, “It is now imperative that we practise articulate and sound governance to help grow this sport from grassroots and once again make us worthy competitors on the international stage. It has become important for us to have people with a clear vision, great management skills and a thorough knowledge of the game to help us get back to our World Cup status and beyond.”
Questioned as to the ongoing strained relationship between the OCA and the governing body of cricket in country, Canada Cricket, Bujwa pointed out that several attempts were made to mend their differences and his entity even offered to drop a court case but these went unheeded.
Bajwa is also urging players not to perceive that they are not eligible to represent Canada if they play cricket that is organised by the OCA.
He alluded to the fact that the Charter of Rights gives anyone equal rights to play for Canada and if a player feels he’s not being fairly treated to contact him personally and he will ensure that player is included in trial matches.
In thanking those present, including former president Mike Kendall, the OCA said it is looking forward to the continued support throughout the tour and in subsequent activities planned.
“The main goal of the OCA has been and will always be to create strong bonds between people and communities, using cricket as a common medium and to bring Canadian cricket back on the world map, one step at a time.”

(By Frederick Halley)

 

 

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