– Secretary Malik Ghaswala is lone newcomer

LONGSTANDING Secretary of the Canada Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA), Azad Khan, has been elevated to president of the body, following Sunday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the Number 43 Police Division, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.

The Guyana-born Khan, who served as Secretary since the CCUA was established in 2003, got the approval of the majority of the voters over his countryman Albert Ramcharran who headed the association over the last two terms.

A qualified West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) umpire, Khan was also Secretary of the Scarborough Cricket Umpires (SCUA) which preceded the CCUA.

The lone newcomer on the executive body is Malik Ghaswala, who takes over as the new Secretary following Khan’s elevation.

Terry Mathura was elected unopposed as the treasurer to serve a further two years, the only other post that was up for election at the meeting.

Vice-president Bisham Singh, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer/Public Relations Officer, Frederick Halley and Education Chairman, Matthew Francis, continue to serve in their respective designations which were secured at least for another year based on the CCUA constitution.

Outgoing President Ramcharran described 2023 as one of the most successful years for the CCUA, in terms of several noteworthy achievements, pointing out that “foremost among those achievements, we were able to receive increases for our umpires after a three-year period of stagnant fees.”

Ramcharran boasted that “several of our umpires were also successful at the WICUA examinations and a few others at Cricket Canada and I would like to take this opportunity to extend heartiest congratulations to them and also to encourage others to follow suit.”

The past President, in his report, told those present that that it should be noted that the WICUA has recently issued new guidelines to its training and examination policy and once these are implemented, members will be able to achieve their WICUA certificates in a shorter time than previously done.

Ramcharran also extended sincere thanks to Treasurer Mathura and his committee members for their tireless work in reviewing the CCUA Constitution and coming up with the proposed amendments and to Vice-president Bisham Singh and the Scheduling Committee for a splendid job.

Vice-president Singh, in his report, wished members a great season ahead and for their attendance at the ongoing seminars which started a few weeks ago.

According to Singh, as Chairman of the Scheduling Committee, it proved to be a very challenging task since some umpires showed dissatisfaction with their assignments. He reminded them that wherever games are being played it is the duty of the CCUA to supply umpires. He also promised that a grading system would be introduced whereby captains will be required to rate/grade umpires.

The CCUA members are gearing up for the start of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) 2024 season which is slated to commence the second weekend in May and the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) matches the last weekend of the same month.

The CCUA is affiliated to the WICUA, which also includes members from Barbados, Bermuda,
Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, United States and
Windward Islands. (Frederick Halley)