STALWART cricket administrator and former player Jainauth ‘Vish’ Jadunauth passed away yesterday morning following a brief illness.

Just shy of his 61st birthday, Jadunauth was a tower of strength in both hardball and softball administration. A founding member of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL), he served in various executive positions, including Coordinator before exiting in in 2019.

Jadunauth is also credited with being in the top echelons of the Scarborough Cricket Association for the past 20 years and was its Chief Financial Officer up until the time of his death, having served in that post for several terms.

Junior Coordinator of Ontario Cricket Association (OCA), Jadunauth, was a qualified West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA)-trained umpire while also versed in the area of scoring.

He was also the treasurer of the Canada Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA), and officiated in matches throughout Ontario.

In a tribute to its fallen executive, the SCA said it is extremely saddened by his passing of its CFO. “Vish was a tower of strength in the SCA and apart from performing excellently as the CFO, he also played a major role in coaching youths, something which was dear to his heart.

“Vish was such an inspiration and although words will not take away the grief, we hope this message brings comfort at this time.”

According to a release from Cricket Ontario president, Sha Zafar, “Vish was the best colleague and a friend of everyone, and an inspiring and hardworking member of our youth committee.

“In such a short span of his association with Cricket Ontario, he has helped Cricket Ontario Youth Programme achieve a high level of success. His contribution to Cricket Ontario as a Junior Coordinator will always be appreciated.”

The OSCL said “Jadunauth’s contributions to our Guyanese community, OSCL and SCA cricket communities have made a difference in many lives. This is sad news indeed…”

The OMSCC also paid tribute to Jadunauth, pointing out that he will be dearly missed for his integrity and passion for the game of cricket on and off the field.

“The OMSCC takes this opportunity to express sincere condolences to his grieving wife and family on this sad occasion. May his soul Rest In Peace.”

Close friend and associate Albert Ramcharran, who was also a founding member of the OSCL and who served as president for several years, was dumfounded by Jadunauth’s passing.

A tearful Ramcharran, who is also the current president of the CCUA, disclosed that they had been friends for more than 30 years and it was customary for them to chat every day on the phone.

“He always referred to my wife as his sister, Ramcharran lamented.

The two, along with their spouses, vacationed yearly across several countries, including attending cricket matches in Guyana and Florida. However, Vish and wife were conspicuously missing last year.

Jadunauth, whose mother-in-law died about a hour following his demise at the same hospital, was from Dundee, Mahaicony before migrating to Canada. (Frederick Halley)