TORONTO, Canada – The predominantly Guyanese Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) are aiming to win an unprecedented sixth consecutive Premiere League title when the playoffs in the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) get under way on Saturday. But unlike previous years when they were firm favourites, they face a stiff challenge to maintain their supremacy.
Having not tasted defeat in 29 successive matches over a three-year span, HACC were jolted this season, suffering two losses, the first an embarrassing one to TP Tigers and also going down to Toronto Smashers in the preliminary rounds.
Long-standing HACC president Narchand ‘Archie’ Mohan is understandably worried but nevertheless confident that his charges will rise to the occasion when the knockout stage kicks off on Saturday and that they will be celebrating a sixth title the following weekend.
At last year’s season-ending presentation ceremony, a jubilant Mohan was quite emphatic that the current accomplishments will be hard to equal much less emulate in years to come and according to him opponents are now looking at HACC with “bloodshot eyes”.
Mohan had also declared then that he was extremely proud to be part of the HACC family and while “I have been proud to be raising the five fingers on my right hand, I am eagerly looking forward to start raising those on the left.”
The club’s reign of successes in finals started in 2010 when they trounced Panoli Cricket Club and this was followed by victories over East West XI in 2011, Victoria Park in 2012, Bawa XI in 2013 and East West again in 2014 when the latter staged an unruly protest over an umpiring decision and the match was awarded to HACC.
Unlike previous years, HACC were beset by not having the core of their top players together and suffered as a result and had to be content with finishing second in Conference A of the league. It should however be noted that they easily defeated Highland Creek who emerged top and whom they are likely to face in the group’s final on Sunday for a place in next Saturday’s (October 3) overall final.
Chief Executive Officer and Coordinator Eon Gunraj has given the assurance that HACC will be raring to go this weekend despite the absence of former West Indies and current Guyana one-day player Royston Crandon and former West Indies B and Guyana opener Krishna Arjune who are expected to be engaged in the Toronto and District Elite semi-finals, representing Brampton Masters.
Both Crandon and Arjune could still be available for the final, providing HACC enter winners’ row on Saturday and Sunday. Arjune has been in fine form recently, smashing his second century of this season, a blistering 132 versus Toronto Cricketers while Crandon has been consistent with both bat and ball.
Regular skipper Hemnarine Chattergoon, a former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 player, who was unavoidably absent in a few preliminary round matches, returns to lead the side and should prove a valuable all-round asset.
Two other centurions, openers Reyaz Prahalad and Azad Amidon are also quite formidable at the top of the order while all-rounder Zaheer Allard has been a tower of strength with both bat and ball all season and along with vice-captain Rishi Samuel are expected to play major roles.
Should HACC get past TP Tigers on Saturday at the L’amoreaux ground, Scarborough, they will battle with the winners of the Highland Creek versus Toronto Smashers game on Sunday at Ashtonbee. The overall final will also be played at Ashtonbee the following Saturday with Sunday, October 4 being the alternative day.

By Frederick Halley