TORONTO, Canada – The Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) kicked off its 2015 season last Saturday with president Albert Ramcharran reminding players of the many added incentives on offer.These incentives include being chosen to represent the league in the upcoming Guyana Festival Day celebrations, the Ontario Masters Softball League (OMSCL) mini World Cup and the fourth edition of the Guyana Softball Cup.
The Guyana Festival Day event, featuring four top teams, will be staged on Sunday, June 14 while the OMSCL mini World Cup is set for the Labour Day weekend in September and the Guyana Softball Cup at the end of October in Guyana.
Last Saturday saw the commencement of the 10/10 knockout tournament, played for the first time with white balls. The OSCL, at its annual general meeting held earlier this year, had decided to introduce the white balls since the executives felt that their teams were clearly at a disadvantage when playing in tournaments staged in Guyana and North America where the balls are being used predominantly.
The OSCL president also used the opportunity to remind players that there will be zero tolerance for bowlers who are deemed to be pelting and once they are called on two occasions, they will be suspended from the game in question. They also face sterner punishment if further infringements occur.
The 10/10 tournament also received a boost with businessman Harri Sukhu agreeing to sponsor the competition over the next three years.
Sukhu, a Guyanese, who is also president of Caribbean Sensation, extended a hearty welcome to the teams and made a sterling call on the players to support the executives of the OSCL since he felt they were doing an excellent job to upkeep the grassroots sport here.
According to Sukju, although the aim is obviously to win, players should also strive to have fun on the field of play. He also opined that, with the introduction of the white balls, teams from the OSCL will be able to compete significantly better in future international competitions.
Apart from the 10/10 tournament, the OSCL season also features the regular 20-over league and a 15/15 knockout competition.
Meanwhile, the OSCL has extended sincere congratulations to the newly-elected government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. According to president Ramcharran, the OSCL would like to wish the President, Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet well in their task to build a peaceful and prosperous Guyana.

By Frederick Halley