By Frederick Halley

PRESIDENT of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA), Shiv Persaud has described the 2024 season as a “remarkable journey.”
During his remarks at last Saturday night’s 45th annual presentation, dinner and dance, held at the Grand Cinnamon Banquet Hall in Markham, Ontario, Canada, Persaud said that despite facing its fair share of challenges, “we came together to overcome setbacks and emerge stronger. This resilience reflects the core values of the Scarborough Cricket Association – unity, determination, and a deep passion for the game.”

According to the Guyana-born Persaud, “our grassroots programmes, particularly the SCA Colts and SCA Youth Development Programme, are the heart of our efforts. These initiatives are nurturing the next generation of cricketers and leaders, creating opportunities for young talents to shine. We are not just building cricketers but also shaping ambassadors of the sport.”

Persaud pointed out that “this year, we saw remarkable growth in participation and skill development among our youth. It’s through such initiatives that we ensure cricket thrives, not just in Scarborough but across Canada. This success is a collective effort, made possible by the dedication of our players, coaches, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters.”

Persaud urged the players to “let us not only reflect on our achievements but also recommit ourselves to the vision of making cricket a cornerstone of community development in Scarborough.”
Persaud also paid tribute to the hardworking SCA team “for their relentless efforts throughout the year, ensuring a successful 2024 season. The several sponsors and supporters also came in for praise. “Your belief in our mission allows us to continue developing cricket at the grassroots level and making a meaningful impact in the community.

“To all our players, coaches, umpires, and volunteers, thank you for your dedication and passion. It is your efforts that make cricket more than a game – it’s a unifying force in our community.”
One of the main highlights of the night’s programme was the induction of long-standing executive member and current Vice-president Bisham Singh into the SCA Hall of Fame which was established last year.
Singh, who has served the association in various capacities, including President, humbly accepted the plaque which read: “In recognition of your outstanding service and dedication to the promotion and development of cricket over the years. Your hard work makes a huge difference. Thank you for what you do!”

Toronto Rhinos Cricket Club stole the honours at the presentation ceremony, emerging winners of the Elite Division after defeating Ambassadors A in the final.
The victory also meant Rhinos achieved the feat in their first year in the Elite Division, after being promoted this year.

They also ended the season in a blaze of glory by winning the SCA T20 Super League knockout title. The respective MVPs were Vivek Dabholia and skipper Mohammad Amir Khan.
Naseeb Cricket Club also had a remarkable season, winning both the Premier Division and T30 Premier Division crowns while securing the runner-up position in the T20 Elite.
Other title winners included TPark Youngstars (T20 Second Division), Rising Stars Cricket Club (T20 First Division), Phoenix Kerala (T20 Premier), Island Warriors (T20 Elite), Toronto Diamonds (T30 First Division), The Kayi Wolves (T30 Elite), JCC Cricket Canada (Over-50 Division), Toronto Invaders B (Third Division), Toronto 6ers (Second Division), United Cricket Club (First Division) and Naseeb Cricket Club (Premier Division.

Among those in attendance were Toronto City Councillors Nick Mantas (Scarborough/Agincourt) and Parthi Kandavel (Ward 20, Scarborough South West), the latter promising to ensure that more facilities will be made available in a few years’ time; President of the Brampton-Etobicoke & District Cricket League (BEDCL) Praim Persaud, Melvin John of Bedessee Sporting Goods, Kim Sue, representing Norman Sue Bakery, President of the Canada Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA) Azad Khan and Liz Anandjit, representing the legacy of the late Budhdave Anandjit.