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USA Cricketer
May 2012 - Posts
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By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)
USA U-19 fast bowler Salman Ahmad has become the sixth USA player
named to the ICC Americas U-19 Development Squad. The ICC Americas
office in Toronto announced his selection to the now 17-player squad on
Wednesday.
Ahmad finished second in wickets taken on the USA U-19 squad at both
the 2011 ICC Americas U-19 Division One tournament in Florida and the
2011 ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier in Ireland. Overall, Ahmad was the
leading wicket-taker for USA at all levels during 2011, finishing with
30 wickets in 17 matches. He also finished with 17 maidens, tops for any
bowler. He took his wickets at an average of 17.37 with a strike rate
of 25.20 and an economy rate of 4.13 runs per over.
 Since
his debut for the USA U-19 squad in Canada in 2009, Ahmad has earned a
reputation for being one of the hardest working players at the junior
level. In December, he received DreamCricket.com’s New Inning Foundation
USA Cricket Award for Bowler of the Year. Born and raised in
California, Ahmad is currently a pre-med student at Loyola Marymount
University in Los Angeles.
Image (right) - Salman Ahmad celebrates after taking a wicket
against Bermuda at the 2011 ICC Americas U-19 Division One tournament in
Florida. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]
Ahmad will join his fellow USA teammates Cameron Mirza, Mital Patel,
Gurpreet Sandhu, Hammad Shahid and Steven Taylor on the ICC Americas
U-19 Development Squad. The squad also includes six players from Canada,
two from Bermuda, two from Cayman Islands and one from the Bahamas.
The ICC Americas U-19 Development Squad will travel to Barbados in
August for a week-long training camp run by head coach Andy Pick and
assistant Wendell Coppin. At the conclusion of the camp, the squad will
be cut from 17 to 14 players before the squad begins its participation
in the WICB Regional U-19 Tournament. The ICC Americas U-19 Development
Squad will play in the 50-over segment of the event, which runs from
August 19-29, but not the three-day match competition.
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Source: American Cricket Federation Media Release
New Cricket Organization Makes Significant Progress. Changes name to American Cricket Federation.
After a busy week, the organizers of the new American cricket organization have made significant progress toward sustainable development of the sport in the United States.
Following detailed discussions, the stakeholders have elected to change the name of the organization to better reflect the nature of the organization: American Cricket Federation. This name reiterates the ACF’s recognition of the role and importance of America’s cricket leagues.
 The ACF’s Constitutional Committee also met to continue developing a framework for the new organization. This framework is broadly inclusive of the various cricketing interests in America and incorporates organizational best practices. These best practices include PricewaterhouseCoopers’ recommendations on governance in the recent Woolf Report, Transparency International’s report to the ICC, and the principles espoused by the governing bodies of other sports including soccer, hockey, and rugby, another international sport seeking a greater foothold in the United States.
The Committee also reiterated a commitment to providing value-added services to leagues, clubs, and individual cricketers alike. The Committee is committing resources to ensure that all members receive direct benefits from their membership.
The Constitutional Committee is composed of current and former league presidents, club officers, and an independent advisor. The members of the committee represent cricketers from coast-to-coast and reflect the diverse cultural roots of American cricket.
Several other committees have been convened and are at work on various aspects of the organization. The organization's website is getting ready and will be announced soon.
For more information about the American Cricket Federation, please contact Prof. Gangaram Singh by e-mailing gsingh@mail.sdsu.edu. To volunteer, please contact Avinash Varma by e-mailing avinash.wmcb@gmail.com.
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By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)
This year’s ICC Americas U-17 tournament, scheduled to take place
from July 8-15 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been reclassified as the
ICC Americas U-18 Match Play Camp between USA, Canada and Bermuda.
According to an ICC Americas spokesperson, the tournament has been
redesigned with the goal in mind to put the teams “in the best position
to challenge for the one spot available” from the Americas that will
move on to the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup.
 The
age of eligible players for this tournament was raised one year from
U-17 to U-18 to allow for all players eligible for the 2014 ICC U-19
World Cup qualification cycle to participate in this ICC Americas event.
Players must be born on or after September 1, 1993 to be eligible to
play for an Associate country at the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup. This means
that Amarnauth Persaud and Steven Taylor, members of the USA squad at
the 2011 ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier in Ireland, will be eligible to
play for USA in July at this ICC Americas event as well as next year's
ICC Americas U-19 Division One tournament. Should USA finish first in
that event, they will advance to the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup in the UAE.
The two Americas representatives at last year’s ICC U-19 World Cup
Qualifier – USA and Canada – both failed to qualify for the ICC U-19
World Cup which begins this August in Australia. Overall, the standard
of play from the Americas has dwindled in recent years. As recently as
2004, the USA was one of the highest rated Associate teams and qualified
for the Champions Trophy in England. After ICC suspensions in 2005 and
2007, they were demoted from ICC World Cricket League Division Three to
Division Five and have struggled to climb back to the upper echelon of
Associates.
In 2007, the region had two representatives in the ICC World Cup with
Bermuda and Canada taking part in the tournament played in the West
Indies. Since then, Bermuda has dropped down to ICC World Cricket League
Division Three. Argentina, which was in ICC World Cricket League
Division Two in 2007, has now been relegated in four consecutive WCL
tournaments to plummet to Division Six. They have lost 24 straight
matches in the WCL beginning with the championship match at Division
Three in 2007 through the fifth place match at Division Five in 2012.
Most recently, the Americas representatives at the 2012 ICC World
Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE – Canada (6th), USA (12th), Bermuda (13th)
– had the worst average finishing position (10.33) of any of the five
ICC Associate development regions. The best way to fix this is by
beginning at the junior levels and so July’s tournament will have a
bonus point structure that will reward teams for achieving certain
milestones within a match. According to an ICC Americas spokesperson,
“The points structure for the Match Play Camp is designed to force
countries on focusing not only on the winning aspect but on developing
the players’ attitude as to how to become better players.”
 USA,
Bermuda and Canada will each play each other twice in 50-over
round-robin matches. Teams will receive 10 points for a win and five
points for a no result. At the 15 over mark of each innings, one bonus
point is available for either side. The bowling side can claim the bonus
point if they have taken three wickets from their opponents. If the
batting side is less than three wickets down after 15 overs, they will
receive the bonus point.
Image (left) - Steven Taylor at 2011 USA U-19 trials in New York. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]
For the team batting first, a bonus point can be claimed for batting
out all 50 overs. If the side fielding first bowls the opposition out
inside of 50 overs, they will claim the bonus point.
A bonus point is given for each partnership by a batting side that is
50 runs or more. Two bonus points are given to a batting side for each
partnership that is 100 runs or more. A fielding side can claim one
point for each run out resulting from a direct hit. Another bonus point
is available for bowling a side out in the second innings (as opposed to
winning the match by restricting the chasing team below the target
without taking all 10 wickets).
Besides Taylor and Persaud, other players who may be in consideration
to make the USA squad for the July event include a slew of players from
the North West including Krish Goel, Arsh Buch, Roshan Varadarajan,
Vibhav Altekar, Dave Parikh and Neil Tagare. Goel was invited to USA
U-19 trials last year and was a member of the USA U-15 team in 2009.
Varadarajan served as vice-captain to Taylor for the USA U-15 team in
2009 and captained the North West Region to the National Championship at
the 2010 USACA-15 National Tournament. Buch was the leading run-scorer
and tournament MVP at the USACA U-15 National Tournament in 2010.
 Parikh
captained the USA U-15 squad in Winnipeg last summer to a first place
finish and was named Tournament MVP at the ICC Americas U-15 Northern
Division Tournament. Altekar scored a double-hundred in the 2011 USACA
U-15 National Tournament and was USA’s leading scorer with 140 runs at
last summer’s ICC Americas U-15 Northern Division Tournament. Tagare had
USA’s highest individual innings score at last summer’s ICC Americas
U-15 Northern Division Tournament with 79 vs. Bermuda.
Image right - Dave Parikh, the MVP of the 2011 ICC Americas U-15
Northern Division Tournament in Winnipeg, Canada. [Courtesy: Peter Della
Penna/DreamCricket.com]
Multiple cricketers from New York also stand an excellent chance of
getting picked including Zahib Tariq, Randall Wilson and Troy Mars. They
have the benefit of playing consistent age group cricket in New York’s
Public Schools Athletic League high school cricket program throughout
the spring. Tariq was one of the best all-round performers at the 2010
USACA U-15 National Tournament as well as a consistently solid performer
for the New York Region U-19 team and FDR High School, one of two
currently undefeated teams this season in the PSAL. Wilson scored two
centuries in the 2011 USACA U-15 National Tournament as well as one in
the 2010 USACA U-15 National Tournament and plays for John Adams HS,
currently 8-1 this season in the PSAL. Depending on eligibility,
Wilson’s John Adams HS teammate Troy Mars stands a solid chance as well.
Mars has a high score of 177 and is currently third overall in runs for
this season’s PSAL behind Persaud, who attends Martin Van Buren HS.
Several others on the USA junior level selection radar are Kwiese
Edmondson of the South East Region, Shakeel Ahmad from the South West
Region, Ryan Persaud from the Atlantic Region, Gordon Makin from the
Central East Region and Rafeek Nazeer from the New York Region.
Depending on eligibility, New York Region player Omar Afridi is also a
top candidate after excelling in Scotland’s junior development program
and representing the country at U-13 and U-15 levels prior to moving to
the USA last year.
However, some players from the North West and New York might be
squeezed out of getting a chance to even compete for a spot in the USA
squad for the ICC Americas U-18 Match Play Camp. The USACA U-17 National
Tournament was postponed from February and no announcement was ever
made to reschedule the tournament. With the ICC Americas event just over
six weeks away, it is highly unlikely that USACA will be able to hold a
national tournament in enough time to help evaluate talent ahead of the
ICC Americas tournament.
According to a source, USACA has discussed the possibility of asking
each region to submit a list of four names to be invited to a national
selection camp, which would hold up to 32 junior players. However, that
would mean that regions which are historically weak at developing solid
junior players, such as the Central West and North East, might take up
spots at the expense of better players from regions which are
historically strong at developing solid junior players, such as the
North West and New York. Another issue is whether or not junior players
from leagues who are not in good standing according to the USACA
compliance audit from February will be invited to participate in any
selection or evaluation process.
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By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)
Correction: This article has been updated at 5:55 p.m. EST on May 24, 2012, to reflect that the ICC Americas U-19 Development team will be participating in the 50-over segment of the WICB U-19
Regional Tournament. It was earlier reported that they would be
participating in a Twenty20 segment of the WICB U-19 Regional Tournament. DreamCricket.com apologizes for the error.
Five
USA players have been named to an ICC Americas U-19 Development team
which will take part in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional U-19
tournament this August in Barbados. USA’s five players were the second
most from any one country for the 16-player squad with Canada taking six
spots according to a team list obtained from ICC Americas Regional
Development Manager Martin Vieira. Cameron Mirza, Mital Patel, Gurpreet
Sandhu, Hammad Shahid and Steven Taylor are the players who have been
selected from the USA to participate.
 Image
(right) USA U-19 batsman Cameron Mirza celebrates after reaching his
century against Argentina in February 2011. [Courtesy: Peter Della
Penna/DreamCricket.com]
The squad has been formed to participate in the 50-over segment of
the WICB Regional U-19 tournament, which runs from August 19-29, but not
the three-day cricket segment. The ICC Americas U-19 Development Team
16-player squad will spend a week in Barbados ahead of the tournament
for a training camp run by head coach Andy Pick and assistant coach
Wendell Coppin. At the conclusion of the camp, the squad will be trimmed
to 14 before playing its first match.
The players who have been invited to participate from Canada are
Manny Aulakh, Nitish Kumar, Akash Shah, Darren Ramsammy, Nikhil Dutta
and Rayankhan Pathan. Cayman Islands will send Sacha de Alwis and Darren
Cato. Bermuda’s Josh Gilbert and Kamau Leverock, who were both part of
the Bermuda senior team that participated in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20
Qualifier in Dubai, will be traveling to Barbados. Rudolph Fox of the
Bahamas has also been included in the squad.
Mirza was the MVP of the ICC Americas U-19 Tournament in February
2011 when USA went undefeated to win the tournament. He led USA with
193 runs in four innings at an average of 193 and finished second
overall in runs. His best score was 118 not out against Argentina. He
currently attends Loughborough University in England which is an MCC
University.
 Mital
Patel led USA with 16 wickets at the 2011 ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier
and tied for seventh overall. His best performance was a return of 6 for
35 against Afghanistan, which included a hat-trick. That spell earned
him the DreamCricket.com New Inning Foundation USA Cricket Award for
Individual Performance of the Year. The medium pacer currently attends
university in India and also trains with Baroda’s age group teams.
Image (left) - Mital Patel holds the match ball after taking 6
for 35, including a hat-trick, against Afghanistan at the 2011 ICC U-19
World Cup Qualifier in Ireland. [Courtesy: Peter Della
Penna/DreamCricket.com]
Gurpreet Sandhu tied for the tournament lead at the 2011 ICC Americas
tournament with 12 wickets in four innings. The leg-spinner’s best
performance was a spell of 5 for 7 against Bermuda, which at the time
were the joint-best ever figures recorded for a USA U-19 player until
Patel’s performance against Afghanistan.
Hammad Shahid was the most economical pace bowler for the USA U-19
team in 2011. Across two tournaments, he bowled 72.2 overs with an
economy rate of 2.89 runs per over. He also took 18 wickets at an
average of 11.61. He has been touted as one of USA’s best pace bowling
prospects for the last four years and has been invited to multiple
selection trials for the USA senior team.
 Steven
Taylor was USA’s leading run scorer at the 2011 ICC U-19 World Cup
Qualifier and tied for second overall with 455 runs in nine innings
including two centuries. Taylor was the recipient of DreamCricket.com’s
New Inning Foundation USA Cricket Awards in 2011 for Batsman of the
Year, Junior Cricketer of the Year and Cricketer of the Year.
Image (right) - Steven Taylor raises his bat after completing a
century against Papua New Guinea at the 2011 ICC U-19 World Cup
Qualifier in Ireland. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]
In March, Taylor finished second on the USA senior team at the ICC
World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE with 179 runs in nine innings
including a best of 40 in USA’s upset win over Scotland.
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Several Major Cricket Leagues Form New Organization to Manage Sport in America
Cricket America Media Release
More than twenty cricket leagues from across United States joined
together to form a new organization to manage the sport yesterday. The
participating leagues include several of the largest and historically
rooted leagues. The new organization will be called Cricket America.
 Cricket has been played in America for three centuries and the
United States is responsible for many historic cricketing firsts
including the first international cricket match, first overseas tour and
first overseas tour by a collegiate team. Throughout the twentieth
century, however, cricket lost ground to other sports. During the last
decade, the United States has experienced a groundswell of interest in
cricket in the country, especially among immigrants from cricket playing
countries.
While the sport is once again experiencing a surge in grassroots
enthusiasm, it has been unable to make significant inroads into the
American sporting landscape. The reasons are many but foremost among
them are the absence of a coherent strategy and a robust organizational
framework.
The new organization hopes to have greater success by effectively
coordinating player and fan development on and off the pitch. Cricket
America will foster an inclusive community involving all of the sport’s
stakeholders and attract investment by managing the sport through a
commitment to transparency and sustainable development initiatives.
"The need for transparency, authentic political inclusion and
effective participation of all members in the decision-making process
are the founding principles of Cricket America. We believe that the way
forward for cricket in the USA is inclusion and not exclusion," said
Leighton Greenidge, President of Southern Connecticut Cricket
Association, who is the Convenor Cricket America's Steering Committee.
Cricket America's forward-looking vision is to offer each aspiring
cricketer and fan the opportunity to discover, learn, and participate in
the sport regardless of age, gender or cultural background. Cricket
America will channel the passion and energy of those already playing the
sport to attract new players and continue grassroots development.
Consistent with this, Cricket America will focus on creating shared
resources and sporting infrastructure that can be utilized by organizers
and volunteers around the country to fuel the game's expansion.
Cricket America's founding members are moving quickly to transform
the organization's vision into reality. A steering committee and an
advisory board composed of several talented and experienced individuals
have been formed, and a variety of sub-committees are finalizing the
operational details of the new organization. The organization's
founding members will conduct road shows in all major cities within the
month.
Avinash Varma, President of Washington Metro Cricket Board and a
member of Cricket America’s steering committee said, "Cricket America
will transform the cricketing landscape of this country through
transparency and accountability. We are working to create an
organization that American cricketers will be proud of and one that will
be seen as the flag bearer of the game in USA."
Those interested in helping chart a new, sustainable path for
American cricket are invited to join the growing number of volunteers by
writing to avinash.wmcb@gmail.com. Media Contact:
Gangaram Singh
619-787-0856
gsingh@mail.sdsu.edu
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By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)
The next ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament, which was
originally scheduled to be played this month in Florida, will now be
played in Malaysia. The announcement was made on Thursday at the
conclusion of the ICC Development Committee Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand
from May 15-16.
Malaysia will become the second country to host a World Cricket
League event for a second time. Singapore was the first, hosting WCL
Division Six in 2009 and WCL Division Five this past February. Malaysia
last hosted a WCL event in 2011 when Division Six was held in September
of last year. Malaysia finished as the runner-up to Guernsey in Division
Six, then finished as the runner-up to Singapore in this year’s
Division Five to gain promotion to Division Four where both teams will
go up against Denmark, Nepal, Tanzania and the USA.
 Malaysia
has very good facilities for an Associate nation. The country hosted
the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2008, which was won by India. In 2006, an ODI
tri-series was played at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur between
Australia, India and the West Indies. Australia won the series, which
was played just a few weeks prior to that year’s Champions Trophy in
India.
ICC WCL Division Four may take place later this year, but there is
also a possibility that the tournament could be held early in 2013.
Exact dates for the tournament are anticipated to be finalized shortly.
Based on annual weather forecasts and the monsoon seasons in Malaysia,
it is unlikely that the tournament would be held in October or November.
July and August are months with relatively low rainfall, but holding
the tournament then could put each participating country in a crunch in
terms of planning and preparation. Also, the ICC U-19 World Cup is
scheduled to run from August 11-26 and it is doubtful that the two
events would be scheduled to clash with each other. In September, the
ICC already has two events on the schedule. ICC WCL Division Eight is
due to take place in Samoa while the ICC World Twenty20 begins on
September 18 and runs through October 7 in Sri Lanka.
The top two finishers in Division Four will advance to Division
Three, which the ICC Development Committee announced will be held next
year in Bermuda. Along with Bermuda, the two teams promoted from
Division Four will be matched up against Italy, Oman and Uganda. On
paper, the teams in Division Four are much more competitive than those
in Division Three. If USA can make it out of Division Four, a tournament
which they won in Italy in 2010, a top two finish at Division Three
would put them in the 2014 ICC World Cup Qualifier which is scheduled to
be held in New Zealand.
The last time USA traveled to Bermuda for ICC Americas tournament
play in 2010, they finished runner-up to Canada in the 50-over portion
of the event before winning the inaugural ICC Americas Division One
Twenty20 tournament title. The tournament sites for the upcoming World
Cricket League events are expected to be ratified by the ICC Chief
Executives Committee at the ICC Annual Meeting in June.
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By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)
The West Indies Cricket Board has announced ticket prices for the two
Twenty20 International matches to be played against New Zealand on June
30 and July 1 in Florida. Reserved chairback seats at the Central
Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill will cost $30 while general
admission tickets to sit or stand on the grass embankment will cost $20.
 The
prices are in similar range to the cost of tickets for the pair of
Twenty20 matches two years ago at the same venue between New Zealand and
Sri Lanka. The prices at that event, The Pearls Cup, were $35 for
reserved and $22 for general admission for the first match which took
place on a Saturday while Sunday ticket prices were $27 for reserved and
$17 for general admission. A total combined attendance figure of 8,600
across two days wound up being the turnout.
Image (right) - The Central Broward Regional Park stadium in
Lauderhill, Florida, is the venue which will host two Twenty20
Internationals between New Zealand and the West Indies on June 30 and
July 1.
The WICB release stated that tickets will go on sale two weeks prior
to the first match at each venue for the New Zealand tour. In addition
to the two Twenty20s in Florida, New Zealand and the West Indies are
scheduled to play five ODIs beginning on July 5 – two in Jamaica and
three in St. Kitts – followed by two Test matches. The first Test will
be in Antigua from July 25-29 before returning to Jamaica for the second
from August 2-6.
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By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)
Owen Graham, 45, has been an influential youth coach and player in
the San Francisco Bay area cricket community for nearly 20 years. His
resume includes being a championship winning captain for the San
Francisco Freedom in the lone season of the US Twenty20 league known as
Pro Cricket, being one of the founding coaches at the California Cricket
Academy, coaching in the NCCA junior development program and most
recently working as the head coach for the East Bay Youth Cricket
Association.
 So
when he was recently diagnosed with cancer, the west coast cricket
community didn’t hesitate to rally around the well-liked personality
known simply as “O.G.”
Image (right) - Owen Graham
“His spirit is definitely high,” said EYCA president Gopal Samant,
regarding Graham’s attitude since being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
“He’s appreciative of the fact that the community has got together and
put aside the political differences of all the leagues and a lot of
people are offering a lot of love and care.”
A social media campaign was started a few weeks ago by the tech savvy
cricketers in the Silicon Valley to help raise funds for O.G.'s cancer
treatment and immediately word spread north to Seattle and south to Los
Angeles. In less than 48 hours, the Northwest Cricket League raised
$2500 and mailed a check to Samant, who is one of the community leaders
organizing the efforts to raise money for Graham. One of the others
leading the charge is Ganesh Sanap, former president of the NCCA and a
close friend of Graham’s, who says that the reaction by the community is
just an indication of the “legend” that is O.G.
“People take to him very quickly,” said Sanap. “There’s very few
Jamaicans here in the Bay Area. Everyone else here is Indian or
Pakistani. That Jamaican accent, people get attracted to him, his
coaching techniques, his depth of cricket knowledge.”
According to Sanap, Graham had been experiencing back pain for a
short while and when he went to see a doctor, he was told he had a
tumor. Despite losing some weight, his appetite and some of his physical
strength, Graham has stayed positive in the face of his diagnosis.
Samant says that Graham will have at the very least six months but
probably closer to a year’s worth of treatment beginning with surgery
and continuing with chemotherapy.
“He’ll have to go through surgery,” said Samant. “There is a tumor on
his spine so they have to take it out through surgery because it’s
causing numbness in his body and in his legs. After that he’ll have to
go through chemo so he’ll be out of action for six to nine months for
sure.”
Samant says that the EYCA has agreed to continue paying Graham’s
coaching fee while he is going through treatment so that he’ll be able
to meet his normal living costs including rent. He says it’s the least
that EYCA can do for someone who has contributed so much not just to
getting EYCA started, but to all of the youth cricketers in the Bay
Area.
“I have not found another person as passionate as him who had the
reason to take the game to the right place,” said Samant. “OG obviously
has been a pillar of putting together the structure, the curriculum,
what needs to be done and what doesn’t need to be done. His importance
to EYCA goes without saying. He’s been the primary pillar who helped us
define how a club needs to run and what kind of infrastructure we need.”
However, his medical bills are projected to reach six figures and
Graham does not have health insurance. As a result, the NCCA and BACA
leagues in addition to the EYCA are collecting money to help alleviate
the financial burden on Graham. The single dad has a 15-year-old
daughter who lives with him. He also has a 5-year-old son who was living
with Graham before the diagnosis but has gone back to live with the
boy’s mother while Graham receives treatment.
“I don’t know how much people can help him but whatever they can that
is what we are appealing,” said Samant. For more information on ways to
donate funds for O.G.’s treatment, please contact Gopal Samant at
cricket.eastbay@gmail.com.
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 Vikram Dravid, a doctor by trade and a member of the British Officers Cricket Club, recently published his first novel called 'Not Just Cricket' joining the growing list of USA based cricketer-writers, including Joseph O'Neill and Ewart Rouse.
The book was officially launched at the 25th anniversary celebrations of the revival of the British Officers Cricket Club in Philadelphia on November 20th 2010. More recently, the author donated copies of the book to the CC Morris Cricket Library in Philadelphia.
According to the novel's publisher, Cinnamon Teal, 'Not Just Cricket' weaves interlacing tales, riveting cricket games and the realities of life. The stories and experiences of his vibrant characters exhort you to think beyond the mundane and get you to reflect upon the ultimate ride, life and its very authentic challenges. As the lives of the characters unfold in this fascinating tale, a myriad of complex and conflicting emotions come to the fore. Every new page draws the reader deeper into the book.
The book is about Arjun, a talented but easygoing kid from the cricket-crazy metropolis of Mumbai who rises from anonymity to the glory of cricket stardom. As the narrative shifts from Mumbai to Pakistan, the novel captures the coming of age of the young protagonist.
The book is available on Amazon.com and has received positive reviews both from readers and critics.
Saaz Aggarwal of Black and White literary blog wrote: "I had been reading slowly, enjoying the story about a typical cricket-playing boy from a middle-class family in Bombay. There had been brief glimpses of a world beyond. At page 97 the world beyond shone through, clear and unmistakable, and I understood how and why this book really wasn’t just about cricket. Cricket is the fabric; it’s also the substance of the plot. However, Not Just Cricket also carries glimpses into rich, deep aspects of life that can be revealed to most of us only through fiction because they are so removed from our scheme of things."
For more information regarding the author, please visit: http://www.vikdravid.com/
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Source: USYCA and EYCA Media Release
 The East Bay Youth Cricket Association inaugurated its first youth-only home ground, a beautiful facility and a key step towards development of youth cricket in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pic (Right): BACA President Iftikhar Khan and EYCA President Samant Gopal inaugurating the youth cricket facility.
Providing a state of the art facility was a key promise that EYCA's founders made at the beginning of 2012 and the organization has now delivered on its promise.
"While I want to thank my current management team for all the hard work they have put in for last two years," Samant Gopal, EYCA President said on the occasion. He also thanked EYCA's parent volunteers without whose trust and support and countless hours of work nothing would have been possible. “You guys Rock!” Mr. Gopal said.
Mr. Gopal also thanked the following members of the cricket fraternity for their resources, contacts and more importantly their knowledge:  Owen Graham (OG), Ganesh Sanap, Jamie Harrison (USYCA), Sarabjit Chadda, Rajesh Suthar, Mukul Kumar, Nigel Coutinho (DreamCricket), Abrar Ahmed, Bhavani Pedadda, Sujesh Pulikkal, Anthony La Rue, Frank Camarda.
Pic (Right): Union City Mayor Mark Green receiving a flower bouquet from EYCA President Samant Gopal.
"I also want to thank Union City Mayor Mark Green. BACA President Iftikhar Khan and all other Bay Area Club Presidents and Executive for attending our event, their support & endorsement means a lot to what we can do for the youth of this region," Mr Gopal said.
USYCA in turn expressed its thanks to Ram Varadarajan, Masaood Yunus and Kannan Muthukkaruppan for stepping up to make this "pitch of dreams" a reality.
Club Contact: Gopal Samant (President); cricket.eastbay@gmail.com
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