TORONTO, Canada – The eight top Premiere League teams in the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) will vie for supremacy in the newly introduced Elite League when the 2016 season gets underway here in May.This was disclosed at last Sunday’s annual general meeting, held at the Agincourt Community Centre, Scarborough, where a new president, Shiv Persaud, was elected unopposed to succeed Deo Samaroo, who was not eligible for re-election, based on the SCA’s constitution which stipulates that a president can serve only two terms.
The introduction of the Elite League comes in the wake of the disclosure that the SCA, a Guyanese-dominated body, will also lose the services of the Ellesemere facility for the next two seasons, since the Toronto City will be carrying out major infrastructural works at the venue which normally hosts two matches simultaneously.
Outgoing president Samaroo, however, assured executives and members that strenuous efforts are being made to acquire alternative venues since the SCA will be severely tasked, as several new teams have signalled their intentions to participate in the several divisions.
Apart from the Elite League, the Premiere League will be maintained in addition to the first and second divisions, the women’s league which started last season and the boys’ under-13 and under-16. The association will also make efforts to reintroduce the T20 tournament.
New president Persaud, who previously served as Registrar/Statistician, thanked the members and fellow executives for the faith reposed in him, pointing out that he intends to continue the work started by his predecessors in making the SCA a force to be reckoned with.
Persaud acknowledged the tremendous work and effort by outgoing president Samaroo who, he said, was instrumental in getting the SCA to where it is at this point. “I am coming in as president at a time when the SCA is positioned for growth as we are expecting additional clubs to our league and doing so with the loss of two of our main grounds at Ellesmere for the 2016-2017 season.”
Pointing out that he was also serving on a board that now has three past presidents – Samaroo, Richard Ramlall and Bisham Singh – Persaud said he intends to build on the outstanding work they have done in serving the SCA over the past years. He congratulated all the executives who were nominated and elected this year and welcomed them aboard to what he termed an exciting and hardworking year
The vice-president remains Bisham Singh, who was unavoidably absent from the meeting but whose position was secure, based also on the constitution while Eon Gunraj and Vish Jadunauth, who were both nominated for the post of president but declined, were retained unopposed as secretary and treasurer respectively.
Mohammed Ahmed continues as assistant secretary while Samaroo is now the Grounds coordinator with Matthew Francis as his deputy. The only newcomer and lone female on the executive is Women’s Cricket Development Advocate in Ontario, Canada, Abigail Rajkumar, while Richard Ramlall continues to serve as Public Relations Officer.

By Frederick Halley