…Record 110 teams to participate
THE Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) 2023 season swings into gear on Saturday with a record 110 teams slated to participate, representing an increase of 16 from the 94 which took part last year. And according to SCA President, Guyana-born Shiv Persaud, that figure could have been even higher if more playing facilities were available.
Persaud pointed out that earlier this year, his association was forced to turn away over 40 new applicants, thereby putting over one thousand constituents out of cricket.
To compound the already growing situation, the SCA also lost the services of the Ajax Cricket Ground, which is currently undergoing rehabilitation and won’t be completed for matches to be played there this season. On a brighter note, when completed, the venue will be outfitted with lights, allowing for matches to be played under floodlights.
Two new grounds, Cedarvale ground in Toronto and Jeffrey Park in Whitby have been however added to the list of grounds with the prospects of having another in Pickering on the cards.
Cedarvale and Jeffrey Park facilities will see action this Saturday and Sunday, featuring mainly T20 and T30 games while matches in venues in Scarborough will bowl off on May 13 and 14.
Defending Elite champions Naseeb Cricket Club (NCC) who dethroned defending champions Ambassadors Sports Club A in the semi-final, before inflicting a six-wicket defeat on Victoria Park in the final, played at the Ashtonbee Number One ground, open their 2023 campaign against Ajax Cricket Club on Saturday, May 13 at the Ellesmere South ground. In the other opening Elite match-up, set for the following day, Star CC/Island Warriors oppose Victoria Park at L’Amoreaux.
Notably, NCC achieved the feat in their first year in the Elite Division, after being promoted from the Premier Division which they won in 2021.
The other teams in contention in the Elite Division are Ambassadors Sports Club A, Highland Creek, who earned promotion after winning the Premier Division in 2022, Kaieteur International A, who also played in the Premier last year, and Caribbean Stars.
Ten teams are vying for supremacy in the Premier Division, which has been divided into two groups. Group A has Bangla Warriors, Champions CC, Janbaaz CC, Maple CC and Toronto Invaders CC while Group B comprises of Ajax CC, Bilal CC, Palace Panthers/Scarborough Legends, Team Tigers and Toronto Rhinos CC.
The First Division, which will also see ten teams battling, has also been split in two divisions. Armor CC, Bawa X1 CC, PBR CC, TP Tigers CC and United Titans are in Group A while Group B has Ajax CC, Durham United CC, Kaieteur International CC, Knightly CC and United CC.
The eight teams in the Second Division are Ambassadors Sports Club B, Oshawa/Hawks Toronto Braves, Superstars, Team Tigers, Toronto 6ixers, Toronto Seawolves, TPark Youngstars and Victoria Park.
Challengers CC, Friends United CC, Lawrence CC, Northumberland County CC, Pickering Panthers CC, Pro Sports CC, Stikbook CC and Toronto Invaders make up the Third Division.
The T30 (Elite and Premiere), T20 (Elite, Premiere, First and Second Divisions) and Over-50 are the other divisions to be contested while efforts are being made to revive the women’s and youth categories.
Meanwhile, the 2022 presentation will be held outdoors on Friday, June 23 at the Ashtonbee ground, starting at 5:00 pm while the association will be reverting to its usual presentation, dinner and dance for the 2023 season on Saturday, November 25, set for the Grand Cinnamon Banquet Hall. This will mark the first time the function will be held indoors since the COVID-19 pandemic. (Frederick Halley)
