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USA Cricketer
October 2012 - Posts
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Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket USACA Press Release USACA 2012 National Championships November 11, 2012
.jpg) USACA is pleased to announce that its 2012 National Championship match between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference has been scheduled for November 11 in Florida at Brian Piccolo Park located in Cooper City, Florida. As warm up for the Championship match both teams will square off in a T20 match on November 10 at the same venue. Eastern Conference Team
Adil Bhatti
Adrian Gordon
Azurdeen Mohammed
Cameron Mirza
Danial Ahmed
Japen Patel
Junaid Rasheed
Shahid Nazir (Malik)
Steve Massiah
Steven Taylor
Timothy Surujbally
Waleed Karimullah Western Conference Team
Abhimanyu Rajp
Aditya Mishra
Elmore Hutchinson
Hammad Shahid
Khawaja Usman Shuja
Naseer Jamali
Ravi Timbawala
Saami Muneeb Siddiqui
Saqib Saleem
Sushil Nadkarni
Timil Patel
Aditya Thyagarajan 2012 Auty Cup Match Series 2012 November 14 to 17, 2012
USA Cricket Association (USACA) is also pleased to announce that the 2012 version of sports oldest international cricket match – USA v Canada for the Auty Cup - is all set for November 14 and 15 in Florida. The Auty Cup was first played between USA and Canada in 1844 and sporadically between the two countries ever since. After a gap of about 16 years the series was revived in 2011 as both USA and Canada committed to continue the tradition. Canada hosted in 2011 coming out victorious. In 2012 USA will be hosting the Canadians in Florida and looking to avenge the defeat. The Auty Cup is a 2-day traditional 2-innings cricket match. However to make the series more interesting and contemporary, additional limited overs matches have been added to the fixtures. A 50 Overs match will be played on November 16 followed by 2 T20 matches on November 17. Team USA for the Auty Cup Match Series
Steven Taylor
Ryan Corns
Nicholas Stanford
Barrington Bartley
Adrian Gordon
Saami Muneeb Siddiqui
Timothy Surujbally
Azurdeen Mohammed
Japen Patel
Danial Ahmed
Adil Bhatti
Hammad Shahid
Naseer Jamali
Timil Patel USA plans on using these series of matches to prepare for its next two international assignments, ICC Americas Division 1 T20 (March 2013) and ICC Pepsi WCL Division 3 (April 2013). In addition to current National players many other players hoping to break into the national team will also be participating and will be eager to attract the selectors’ eyes.
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Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket
By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)
USA opening batsman Steven Taylor has been selected to be a part of a
World XI team captained by former Sri Lanka star Sanath Jayasuriya
against a Pakistan All-Star XI in a pair of exhibition matches this
weekend in Karachi, Pakistan. The 18-year-old Florida native confirmed
his participation in the event via text message on Monday prior to
boarding a flight for Pakistan.
 Taylor was named the 2011 Cricketer of the Year
in DreamCricket.com’s New Inning Foundation USA Cricket Awards. The
menacing left-hander was USA’s vice-captain at the 2011 ICC U-19 World
Cup Qualifier in Ireland where he finished tied for second overall at
the event with 455 runs including two centuries. He is the only American
player in the 12-man World XI squad for the matches which will be
played at the National Stadium in Karachi on October 20 and 21.
Image (right) - Steven Taylor in action vs. Denmark at 2012
ICC WCL Division Four in Malaysia. [Courtesy: Peter Della
Penna/DreamCricket.com]
At the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE, Taylor was USA’s
second most productive batsman with 179 runs at the tournament. His
best score was 40 in USA’s upset win over ODI-nation Scotland. In
August, he captained the ICC Americas U-19 team in Barbados at the West
Indies Cricket Board Regional U-19 Tournament, making a top score of 75
against Barbados U-19. At ICC World Cricket League Division Four last
month in Malaysia, he finished second overall at the tournament with 216
runs at an average of 36.00 including two half-centuries for USA at a
strike rate of 104.85.
In addition to Taylor, former West Indies Test bowlers Adam Sanford
and Jermaine Lawson, who played for the New York and Atlantic Regions
respectively in USACA National Tournaments in 2010, are also in the
World XI as is former West Indies international Ricardo Powell, former
South African internationals Justin Kemp, Loots Bosman, Nantie Hayward
and Andre Nel and current Afghanistan players Shapoor Zadran and
Mohammad Shahzad.
The Pakistan All-Star XI will be captained by Shahid Afridi and
includes seven other players from Pakistan’s 2012 ICC World Twenty20
squad: Nasir Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Imran Nazir,
Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Sami. Also in the Pakistan All-Star XI squad is
Younis Khan, who has played 79 Tests and was the title-winning captain
for Pakistan at the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England.
The matches are being staged in an attempt to help revive
international tours to Pakistan. No Test playing nation has toured the
country since the Sri Lanka team bus was the target of a terrorist
attack on the way to the Gaddafi Stadium for day three of a Test match
in Lahore on March 3, 2009.
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Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket By Venu Palaparthi - A self-proclaimed blogger  A
bizarre post on USA Cricket Association's Facebook page caused cricket
writers across the globe to stop and take notice of USA cricket. Not
since GOP's John Bart King topped first class bowling averages in 1908
has USA cricket received this kind of attention. Unfortunately, it was
the type of attention we could have done without.
By Monday evening, the post on USACA's official Facebook page had
received more than 721 comments and threatened to trend on Twitter
thanks to tweets by a former Test cricketer, bloggers and reporters.
One cricket writer correctly called the entire situation a 'hilarious
social meltdown.' By afternoon, there were suggestions that the
entire thread be forwarded to the ICC, whose financial support and
recognition USACA continues to receive months after a majority of the
leagues were muffled in a controversial election.
Here is a synopsis of what transpired and we have not yet seen the end of this sorry episode. It
continues to grab the attention of the world's cricket writers (or
bloggers, if you prefer). For a detailed version, go to the post on Facebook.
On October 13th, after Peter Della Penna wrote on ESPNcricinfo
shedding light on a division among USACA's board members, the
administrator of USACA's Facebook account posted a link to the article
along with the following comment: "Peter Della Penna continues his
unethical journalistic bias by writing yet another scathing article on
USA Cricket's internal affairs." Addressing Peter that afternoon, he
wrote: "
Addressing Martin Williamson, Executive Editor of ESPNcricinfo, the USACA administrator wrote: "
What
followed this were the somewhat strange views expressed by the
administrator on the qualifications of a professional journalist.
Addressing Martin Williamson once again, he wrote: "
Soon after, after bloggers expressed bewilderment with this
definition of a journalist, the USACA Facebook administrator wrote: "
This led the blogger, David Mutton of The Silly Midoff Blog, to note, "
The
USACA administrator proclaimed that Martin Williamson 'had no
relationship with ESPN3' and proceeded to call David Mutton an
"alter-ego" of Peter Della Penna, who he called an 'ex-knife salesman.'
The USACA administrator then went back to attacking Martin Williamson: "
He then asserted: "
Elaborating on his role, the administrator, by now it was apparent that he was likely the Executive Secretary, wrote: "
What followed was a veiled threat: "
The administrator continued to maintain that the two reporters were internet bloggers and not journalists. "
All of this led Andrew Nixon who writes for CricketEurope to wonder: "
By evening, another accusation was leveled, once again Martin taking the brunt, "
Martin's response was simultaneously amusing and tragic: "
USACA's administrator then followed that up with another bizarre remark. "
Even
if the math does not add up, this latest iPad giveaway is similar to a
promise Kenwyn Williams made earlier this year as the candidate for
Executive Secretary when he announced: "I have 10 iPad 3's for the first
10 people (and by people I mean 10 of the 15 league presidents that can
vote - obviously)."
It is a fact that 32 (not 42) leagues were disqualified from voting in the election. It is also a fact that Williams only offered 10 iPads to begin with. So it is not clear how 42 could be left over. It is not known if he kept his promise anyway. What we do know is that Williams received exactly 10 votes.
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DreamCricket Media Release
Syed Kirmani, a vital member of the 1983 Cricket World Cup champions
from India, shared his knowledge and wisdom with many aspiring
cricketers during a visit to the DreamCricket Academy on Sunday in
Hillsborough, New Jersey. The former Indian wicketkeeper, who claimed
198 dismissals in his 88-Test career from 1976 to 1986, spent time
engaging with junior players during a coaching session at the indoor
academy, giving tips on batting, bowling and wicketkeeping before taking
pictures and signing autographs for those in attendance.
 “This
game has given me everything and it was a great way of life for me,”
Kirmani told the DreamCricket Academy members during a question and
answer session.
Image (right) - Syed Kirmani at the DreamCricket Academy in Hillsborough, N.J. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]
Kirmani became the latest big name in cricket to spend time with
young American cricketers at the DreamCricket Academy, whose guests
since its founding in 2008 have included Ian Pont, K. Bharath Kumar,
Chetan Chauhan, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Lance Gibbs and Sunil Gavaskar.
Kirmani encouraged all the young players to aim high and not be afraid
of challenges on or off the field.
“I had no fear facing the fastest bowlers of our time,” Kirmani said.
“When you fear anything, you will not be successful. Whatever happens
will happen so be positive. If he is the fastest bowler, I have got the
bat. I’ll hit him. If he can knock me, I can also knock him. That is the
approach I had. That’s the kind of feeling I always had. The most
fearful thing, I have always taken it as a challenge and that brought
the best out of me. So what if he’s the world’s best spinner. So what if
he’s the fastest bowler in the world. I can also beat him.”
“That should be the feeling in whatever. All right if he’s number one
in the class. If he’s number one, I’ll beat him. That’s how you kids
have got to think about it. You’ve got to be number one in wherever you
are. You’ve got to tell yourself that yes, if he’s a brilliant student
I’ll be better than him. If he’s a rank holder, I’ll do better than him.
If he’s a better guy than me, I’ll be the leader of the class. That
should be the positive thing. That should be your aims. That should be
your goals in whatever you want to become.”
Towards the end of the coaching session, Kirmani talked about key
areas for cricketers to focus on in order to strengthen their games. He
also took aside the wicketkeepers in the group to give tips on how to
improve their footwork and body positioning particularly when it comes
to standing up to the stumps for spin bowlers. Kirmani kept wicket
during much of his career to India’s famed spin quartet of Bishan Singh
Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas
Venkataraghavan.
Image (above) - Former Indian wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani shares
some footwork techniques with a junior wicketkeeper at the DreamCricket
Academy in Hillsborough, N.J. [Courtesy: Peter Della
Penna/DreamCricket.com]
“It was our privilege to host Padma Shri Syed Kirmani, an iconic
cricketer from the winning 1983 World Cup team,” Kranthi Bayya, CEO of
DreamCricket, said. “DreamCricket Academy youth and parents enjoyed his
many anecdotes and eagerly took in pointers during the coaching session
he oversaw along with DreamCricket coaches Earl Daley and Delkash.”
Since 2008, DreamCricket Academy has introduced cricket to hundreds
of boys and girls with several junior players going on to represent
USA’s junior national teams.
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By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)
The K.A. Auty Cup, a trophy contested for the cricket rivalry between
the USA and Canada, is scheduled to be held this year as part of a
series of matches from November 14-17 in Florida according to
information posted on the Cricket Canada web site. Although USACA has
not issued a press release regarding the matches, sources have confirmed
that player availability is currently being sought to form a squad for a
two-day match, one 50-over match and two T20s to be played at the
Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill.
 The
Auty Cup multi-day match was resumed in 2011 after a 16-year hiatus.
Canada defeated an understrength USA squad by 34 runs in the two-day
match in Toronto last summer as part of the Etihad Summer Cricket
Festival. USA and Canada played the first ever international cricket
match in New York in 1844 and the two countries share a lengthy history
together.
While Canada is currently one of the six Associate and Affiliate ODI
nations, the USA has still managed to have some measure of success
against them in recent years. USA defeated Canada by 81 runs to win the
2008 ICC Americas Tournament in Florida and defeated them in the final
of the inaugural ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 Tournament by five
wickets in Bermuda in 2010.
Canada defeated the USA by nine wickets as part of an undefeated run
to win the 2010 ICC Americas Division One 50-over competition in Bermuda
in 2010 and also beat the USA by 10 runs to win the most recent ICC
Americas Division One Twenty20 in Florida last year.
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By Venu Palaparthi
 Nearly a month after CricketNext.com reported that Cricket Holdings America's US T20 league will be launched in 2013 with six teams, more details have emerged regarding the T20 league in articles that appeared in ESPNCricInfo and Bloomberg.
Venues
On the subject of infrastructure, CHA had previously stated that the US T20 would look to venues where 'things could be prepared for cricket with minimal work.' In an interview that appeared in ESPNcricinfo on October 5th, CHA's CEO Neil Maxwell said that cricket should think beyond what is traditionally acceptable. "A lot of major sports have moved to artificial surfaces," Maxwell said.
Untethering the league from cricket-specific venues vastly expands the potential venues. "What we want to do is broaden this game to mainstream America as quickly as possible," Maxwell said.
A look at the economics
According to the Bloomberg article, the T20 league will have a salary cap of $1 million in the first year. According to unconfirmed reports, each team will have 2 marquee players, 4 top tier players, 6 to 7 tier two players and two US developmental players. The $1 million salary cap might work fine. In Australia's Big Bash League, teams had a salary cap of $1 million during the first season and the minimum contract was set at $20,000.
The Bloomberg report also noted that CHA expects to sell each franchise for $40 million payable over ten years. Just for comparison, the IPL average franchise cost at the time of that league's launch was $80 million.
According to Brand Finance, IPL teams had brand values ranging from $27 million and $48 million in 2012. Low brand valuation not withstanding, actual transaction prices have varied in the IPL. Pune Warriors was sold for $370 million in 2010. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra acquired 12% of Rajasthan Royals for $16.8 milion valuing that team at $140 million. When the Deccan Chargers sought a new owner this year, a bid for $176 million was received and rejected*.
Broadcast revenue forms the bulk of the IPL central pool and the central pool revenue per franchise forms the bulk of total franchise revenues. At inception, IPL's ten year central revenue pool was estimated to be $1.1 billion (it was later revised to $1.6 billion). The Sony broadcasting contract with IPL translates to roughly $1 million per match.
Assuming US T20 franchises are sold for $30 million to $40 million, math suggests that CHA central pool should be in the range of $500 million to $800 million over a 10-year period if investors target the same ROI. From a broadcast revenue standpoint, the biggest challenge for the US T20 is the short 2-3 week long season compared to the 5-6 week 76 match season at IPL.
The US T20 target revenue from broadcast deals would need to be between $500K and $1 million per match. Viewership numbers for ESPN3's recent ICC T20 World Cup broadcasts may help CHA in their negotiations but a $1 million per match fee puts the US T20 in the same league (pun unintended) as the IPL.
Major League Soccer as bellwether
Major League Soccer (MLS) serves as a good bellwether when analyzing cricket's prospects. In 1996, owners paid roughly $5 million for each franchise and valuations have ticked upwards as the league has gained stability.
According to a Forbes magazine article, MLS' 19 teams were losing money but the value of each of its teams was increasing. Earlier this year, it was reported that investors Erick Thohir and Jason Levien of Philadelphia 76ers acquired 60% of D.C. United in a deal that valued D.C. United at $50 million. Forbes called it the most expensive soccer franchise in the U.S. Also, Montreal Impact, the 19th team in MLS which started playing in 2012, is said to have paid $40 million.
Let's take a look at MLS' broadcast revenue. According to the Sports Business Daily, the MLS-NBC deal is worth $10 million a year for 49 matches. MLS also signed a 7-year TV deal in 2007 with Univision and ESPN that netted it $425 million. From a broadcast standpoint, MLS is thought to have an average TV viewership of just less than 1 million across the three networks. All told, the soccer league earns an estimated $60 million per year in broadcast revenue.
In order to justify a $40 million price tag, US T20 needs to demonstrate solid numbers from the start. From the owners' perspective, they will undoubtedly look for capital appreciation that is comparable to IPL. While this is not impossible, the beauty (or the devil) is in the details.
India's participation is key
Neil Maxwell told Bloomberg that he would look to 'combine Hollywood and Bollywood and integrate celebrities' in order to take the product to a bigger audience.
According to a sports industry veteran we spoke to, Bollywood and Hollywood presence could certainly help, but the 800 lb gorilla was, is and will always be India - Indian players, Indian broadcasters, Indian viewers and Indian sponsors.
"In order to justify MLS style valuations, especially when all you are looking at is a clean slate, you must really go where the money is. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had existing cricket audiences and their T20 leagues have not matched up to the IPL yardstick. That is because of the lack of Indian participation," he said speaking on condition of anonymity.
"The high franchise cost, artificial surfaces and the relatively short duration of the tournament are not optimal but if CHA can secure BCCI consent and Indian players are allowed to participate, then the game is on," he said.
[*Hours after this article was published, Deccan Chargers agreed to sell the Hyderabad franchise to Kamla Landmarc. The estimated price tag is $220 million.]
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By Peter Della Penna in Los Angeles (on Twitter)
Muhammad Asad Khan’s solid all-round performance in the semifinals
and finals guided the Southern California Cricket Association to wins
over Massachusetts State Cricket League by 89 runs in the morning
followed by an eight wicket win over Cricket League of New Jersey in the
afternoon as the SCCA won the inaugural American Cricket Federation
Twenty20 National Tournament on Monday at Woodley Park in Los Angeles,
California. Khan was named Tournament MVP for his performances in the
event as SCCA knocked off the previously undefeated CLNJ in the final
for the title.
SCCA began the day with an explosive batting display in their
semifinal match against MSCL. After winning the toss and batting first,
SCCA feasted on an MSCL bowling attack that struggled to find the right
length. SCCA’s batsmen hit 21 fours and four sixes off their 20 overs,
finishing on 198 for 6.
 Rohit
Yadav scored 22 of 24 runs in a first wicket partnership with Clayon
Graham before being dismissed by Alexi Martin. Khan joined Graham at the
wicket and the pair added 99 runs in 9.2 overs. Graham scored 55 off 34
balls and only had six dot balls in his innings when he was bowled by a
Sharaz Baksh yorker. Khan finished with 70 off 43 balls before Baksh
claimed him LBW with another yorker to make it 162 for 3 in the 16th
over. Timil Patel and Amit Sood added 17 and 18 to boost SCCA to their
eventual total, finishing just shy of 200.
Image (right) - Dr. Atul Rai presents Muhammad Asad Khan of the
SCCA with the award for Tournament MVP. [Courtesy: Peter Della
Penna/DreamCricket.com]
MSCL was 40 for 1 in 7 overs and managed to get to 53 four balls into
the eighth over to stay within striking distance of the asking rate but
Baksh was dismissed for 36 off 28 balls on the fifth ball of the over
by Graham to put a serious dent in MSCL’s chances. When the big hitting
Timmy Thomas was dismissed for a golden duck off the first ball of the
ninth over by Patel, caught on the long off boundary, the dismissal all
but sealed the match for SCCA. Patel finished with 2 for 18 and Shayan
Abdulghani 3 for 19 as MSCL was bowled out on the last ball of the
innings for 109.
In the other semifinal, CLNJ won the toss against Midwest Cricket
Conference and despite the fact that CLNJ had won all three of their
preliminary games batting first, elected to send MCC in to bat. MCC was
restricted to 135 for 7 in 20 overs. CLNJ was 91 for 4 after 13 overs
with the match evenly balanced, but thanks to 59 from Rohan Sheth, CLNJ
managed to get across the line by four wickets with an over to spare.
 In
the final between SCCA and CLNJ, the east coast side won the toss and
elected to bat first. CLNJ had several players get starts, but no one
was able to carry on for a significant score. Sheth made 24 opening the
innings and CLNJ captain Kunal Baride scored 25 at number four. Baride
and Santosh Dani added 35 for the fifth wicket, but Baride fell with the
score on 101 in the 16th, sparking a collapse that saw CLNJ lose three
wickets in five balls for no runs to fall to 101 for 7. They were
eventually bowled out for 118 in the last over. Left-arm spinner
Abdulghani took 3 for 18 and finished with a tournament best 12 wickets.
Image
(left) - Shayan Abdulghani receives an SG bat after being named Best
Youth Player at the 2012 American Cricket Federation Twenty20.
[Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]
SCCA made light work of the chase, reaching the target in 13.4 overs.
Yadav and Graham made 21 and 29 respectively before getting out as SCCA
reached the 10-over mark at 81 for 2. Khan and Patel knocked off the
rest of the runs with Khan finishing 37 not out in 25 balls and Patel 25
not out in 16 balls. Khan hit the winning runs with his eighth
boundary.
At the post-tournament awards presentation, former USA U-19 player
Abdulghani was presented with a bat from tournament sponsor SG after
being chosen as the Best Youth Player on the weekend. CLNJ’s Jasdeep
Singh was given the award for Best Bowler after finishing tied for first
at the end of the group stage with six wickets including a hat-trick
against Minnesota Cricket Association. Abishek Patel of the Southern
Connecticut Cricket Association was named Best Batsman after being the
top scorer in the group stage with 141 runs.
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[USACA Media Release; October 5th, 2012]
The following is a summary of the progress that the United Statesof America Cricket Association (USACA) is making toward fulfillment of its 100 day plan, first published in May of 2012.
CEO SEARCH
- The CEO Search Committee has been assembled; it consists of Gladstone Dainty, Tim Anderson (ICC Global Development Manager), Ahmed Jeddy, Hassan Khan, and Sunil Kumar.
- Out of well over 100 applicants, 5 finalists have been selected.
- It is anticipated that, after a thorough, in-depth interviewing and vetting process, a final candidate will be selected by the 19th of October, 2012.
Picture (Right): Plan Stages Diagram accompanying the Press Release. Legend - Stage 1 - Red - Initiation; Stage 2 - Yellow - Committees; Stage 3 - Purple - Plan Budget; Stage 4 - Green - Plan in Play; Stage 5 - Effect of Plan
GOVERNANCE
- The Governance Review Committee has been assembled; it consists of Brian Walters (USACA Central West Regional Representative); John Thickett (USACA Treasurer); Jon Long (head of Executive Programs at the ICC); Nigel Melville (president/CEO of US Rugby); and Kevin Hussain (president of Connecticut Cricket League).
- An RFP has been written and distributed to several entities with direct experience in the governance review process.
- Input has been obtained from several sources, including people who have been involved in governance reviews of Cricket Australia, Cricket Ireland, New Zealand Cricket, US Rugby, and others.
- One response has been received by the Governance Review Committee, and is being reviewed; a minimum of 5 more are expected to be received by the 25thof October, 2012.
YOUTH/WOMEN
- An acting committee of six to eight candidates from a pool of 18 US league presidents and cricket academy CEOs has been formed.
- The committee mandate is to focus on a complete eco system for youth cricket in the US- from introducing the game to coaching and developing new players.
- Formal funding has been allocated in the amount of $65,000.
- Women’s cricket remains a priority; plans are in place to conduct a women’s tournament in the near future. Currently, that initiative is being handled by the committee.
ESPN
- USACA’s current website mentions new coverage via ESPN for cricket in the US.
- The T20 World Cup, currently televised on ESPN3 in all US markets, has been a tremendous success.
- A communications consultant isin the process of being hired to media train and manage outreach to formal and informal media channels.
- An entire review of all media relations, ESPN included, will be one of the primary focus areas of the new CEO.
COMPLIANCE
- The compliance committee is in place, and moving forward on its objectives.
- The activities of the committee are currently awaiting full board approval.
ADDITIONAL AREAS
- The administrative function was identified as one of the core items; our expectation is that with the hiring of the new CEO, this function will befully under control.
- Coaching is a priority going forward; coaching sessions andhigh performance clinics will be conducted by Robin Singh within 45 days from the date of this press release.
- Preparation continues for the Division 3 Tournament, to be conducted in Bermuda in April 2013, as well as the ICC World Cup qualifiers and the Under-19 Tournament in the summer of that same year. It is expected that the preparation will be complete within 45 days from the date of this press release. This preparation includes:
- Solidifying the locations for conducting matches and practice/coaching sessions
- Ensuring that the strategy for all tournaments is consistent with the goals of each team.
- USACA will be conducting a national Men’s Tournament within 75 days of the date of this press release.
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By Peter Della Penna in Los Angeles (on Twitter)
Cricket League of New Jersey fast bowler Jasdeep Singh clean bowled
three batsmen in three balls to complete a stunning hat-trick as CLNJ
defeated Minnesota Cricket Association by 53 runs in the morning before
clinching first place with a 3-0 record after a 1-run win over Southern
Connecticut Cricket Association in the afternoon on the second day of
the 2012 American Cricket Federation Twenty20 Tournament at Woodley Park
in Los Angeles, California.
In Sunday’s other morning matches, Southern California Cricket
Association defeated Washington Metropolitan Cricket Board by 131 runs,
Michigan Cricket Association defeated Massachusetts State Cricket League
by 28 runs and Midwest Cricket Conference defeated Southern Connecticut
Cricket Association by 48 runs. In the afternoon, MSCL defeated MCA by
117 runs, MCC beat WMCB by seven wickets and Michigan Cricket
Association stunned SCCA by 2 runs.
Four teams – SCCA, MCC, MSCL and Michigan Cricket Association –
finished tied at 2-1 but Michigan was the odd team out to miss the
semifinals as they had the lowest net run rate among the four. SCCA
finished in second place on net run rate, MSCL third and MCC fourth.
Monday’s semifinals will feature CLNJ taking on MCC while SCCA and MSCL
face off in the other game.
CLNJ batted first against MCA and posted 132 for 8 in 20 as Santosh
Dani top scored with 44 not out at number four. Singh’s hat trick to end
the match overshadowed spin bowler Pradeep Vedala’s spell of 4 for 11
as MCA was bowled out for 79 in the 17th over.
Image (above) - CLNJ fast bowler Jasdeep Singh erupts after
bowling his third batsman in three deliveries to complete a hat-trick
against Minnesota Cricket Association. [Courtesy: Peter Della
Penna/DreamCricket.com]
In the afternoon game between CLNJ and Southern Connecticut, CLNJ
batted first and posted 149 for 7 in 29 as CLNJ captain Kunal Baride top
scored with 33 off 22 balls at number five. In reply, opener Abishek
Patel nearly took the New Englanders to victory with 90 before being run
out going for the tying run on the final ball of the innings as
Southern Connecticut finished on 148 for 8.
SCCA batted first in their match against WMCB and posted 194 for 4 in
20. Mohammad Asad scored 75 off 43 balls at number three and was well
supported by Timil Patel who finished 40 not out in 25 balls at number
four. WMCB could not handle the spin attack of SCCA as Patel took 2 for 9
in four while Shayan Abdulghani wiped out the tail with 3 for 7 as WMCB
was bowled in for 63 in 18.3 overs.
Michigan batted first in their contest against MSCL and posted 179
for 6 with Manpreet Singh scoring 91 not out at number four with six
boundaries and four sixes. Timmy Thomas scored 82 not out at number five
in the MSCL chase, but lacked support and MSCL eventually finished on
151 for 6.
MCC batted first in the morning against Southern Connecticut, posting
154 for 7 in 20 overs. Mir Alavi top scored with 35 not out off 20
balls at number seven. Southern Connecticut’s chase never got going as
they were reduced to 4 for 2 in the third over and finished on 106 for
9. Abhijit Joshi took 3 for 17 with his off spin while Aditya Venkatesan
also bowled a clever spell of medium pace opening the bowling to finish
with 2 for 13 in four.
MCC completed their comeback from a first day defeat at the hands of
SCCA to clinch a spot in the semifinals with a convincing win over WMCB,
who finished the event without a win. WMCB’s batting order collapsed as
MCC captain Nirav Amin and Sameer Raorane ripped through the Washington
side to leave them 37 for 6 before they eventually scraped their way to
121 thanks to intervention from WMCB captain Ankur Saini who scored 32
at number seven. MCC chased the runs in 15.1 overs as Sandeep Dhar top
scored with 39 off 33 balls.
MSCL needed to win their afternoon game against MCA to qualify for
the semifinals and did so in emphatic fashion after posting the highest
score of the tournament, 210 for 5. Sharaz Baksh top scored with 53 off
25 balls but Fazal Alam, Huen Daley, Zeeshan Muhammad and Thomas all
chipped in with good scores. MCA was restricted to 93 for 7 in reply.
In the final game of the day, Michigan ruined SCCA’s quest for an
undefeated run through the prelims. Prajwal Shetty scored 50 opening the
match for Michigan in their total of 139 for 7. Asad took 3 for 14 for
SCCA. The host side appeared to be cruising to victory, needing only 18
to win with five overs left and five wickets in hand. SCCA then
committed three run outs in the next four overs while stumbling for runs
and entered the final over needing seven to win. During an attempted
two at the start of the over, the umpires called one run short. Patel
was run out for 29 and another run out on the last ball meant SCCA fell
short with the last five wickets all run outs as SCCA ended on 137 for
9. Rather than claim the number one seed in the semifinals and a matchup
with MCC who they beat convincingly on day one, they now face a stern
test against an explosive MSCL batting lineup.
Live coverage of the final day’s play will begin at 10 a.m. PST from on DreamCricket.com.
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By Peter Della Penna in Los Angeles (on Twitter)
Southern Connecticut Cricket Association batsman Carl Whyte’s six
over midwicket sealed a win via a super over eliminator against
Minnesota Cricket Association to cap the first day’s play in style at
the 2012 American Cricket Federation Twenty20 Tournament inside Woodley
Park at the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex in Los Angeles, California.
 In
the other matches on the day at Woodley, Cricket League of New Jersey
defeated Michigan Cricket Association by 25 runs, Massachusetts State
Cricket League defeated Washington Metropolitan Cricket Board by 59 runs
and the Southern California Cricket Association defeated Midwest
Cricket Conference by 44 runs.
Image (right) - Carl Whyte looks on after connecting with the six
that won the super over for Southern Connecticut side. [Courtesy: Peter
Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]
In the last game of the day, Jay Singh was named Man of the Match
after top scoring with 59 not out for the Southern Connecticut side
coming in at number four in their total of 164 for 5. Pavan Chakravarthy
spearheaded Minnesota’s chase with 82 at the top of the order. Only two
other Minnesota batsmen reached double-figures though as they finished
on 164 for 8. In the super over, MCA could only manage six runs. Whyte
came out in response and after a two on the first ball, struck a six to
give Southern Connecticut a thrilling win.
In the first match of the day, Michigan won the toss and sent CLNJ in
to bat. Rohan Sheth led the way for CLNJ with 35 off 31 balls opening
the batting in CLNJ’s total of 137 for 8. In reply, Michigan was bowled
out for 112 in 18.3 overs.
 Medium
pacer Jasdeep Singh was named Man of the Match after a superb spell
both with the new and old ball, finishing with 3 for 20. Off-spinner
Sakshey Vij also turned in a solid performance with the ball, taking 3
for 21.
Image (left) - Rohan Sheth of CLNJ smashes one over cover. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]
After Michigan as reduced to 83 for 6, Adnan Ali provided a spark of
hope at number seven with sixes off three consecutive balls, but when he
got out for 27 off 16, CLNJ had the match comfortably in hand.
Massachusetts batted first in their match and posted the highest
score of the morning session, 181 for 8 in 20. Sharaz Baksh got things
going at the top with 55 off 37 balls including nine fours. Huen Daley
came in at number four and one-upped his teammate with 63 off 38 balls,
slamming five fours and four sixes in his sizzling knock. Sardar Ahmed
took 3 for 34 in the field for WMCB.
In reply, Manpreet Singh wiped out both WMCB openers and when Alexi
Martin removed Ashutosh Gairola for 1, the score was 18 for 3 in the
third over. Vishal Khatri provided brief hope for WMCB with 46 at number
four, but it wasn’t enough as Massachusetts eventually bowled them out
for 122 in 18.2 overs. Daley was named Man of the Match for his first
innings blitz.
 In
the afternoon game at Wright Field, the host side SCCA won the toss and
batted first against Midwest. SCCA got off to a rollicking start behind
opener Rohit Yadav, who pulverized the Midwest bowling attack, bringing
up a half-century in just 17 balls. He appeared to be racing toward a
certain century before he drove a low full toss to long off to walk off
for 78 in 38 balls with SCCA 132 for 3 in the 13th over.
Image (right) - SCCA batsman Rohit Yadav on his follow through
after crushing one of his seven sixes straight down the ground at Wright
Field. [Courtesy: Peter Della Penna/DreamCricket.com]
The scoring rate slowed once he got out, but not enough to give
Midwest any hope of chasing SCCA’s eventual total of 193 for 8. Former
Ranji Trophy player Amit Sood scored 35 off 23 balls before he was run
out on the second to last ball of the innings.
In reply, Midwest lost wickets in clumps of two on 20, 65 and 99 to
be 99 for 7 in 13 overs. Off-spinner Clayon Graham ended the 13th with
two wickets in two balls to be on a hat-trick, but bizarrely never got a
chance to bowl a hat-trick ball as SCCA captain Mehul Dave made use of
nine bowlers in the innings. Former USA U-19 bowlers Hammad Shahid and
Shayan Abdulghani each took two wickets as well. Midwest eventually
finished on 149 for 9 in 20.
All eight teams in the event will play twice on day two of the event
on Sunday at Woodley. Four matches are scheduled to be played at 10 a.m.
PST while the second four-match set of the Twenty20 slate is scheduled
to begin at 2 p.m. PST. DreamCricket.com will have live coverage
throughout the day’s play.
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Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket
By Venu Palaparthi
All talk and no action
 After winning a controversy marred election that saw the present leadership emerge with the support a majority of only fifteen leagues that were allowed to vote, USACA has not exactly been sweeping U.S. cricket popularity polls.
'USACA’s goal is to expand dramatically the audience for cricket in the United States and to make cricket attractive to players and spectators from all parts of American society,' USACA said in its press release the day after the election.
USACA subsequently published its 100-day plan and hinted at efforts to reach out to the leagues via virtual townhall meetings. The plan also noted that its Compliance Management Committee would 'reach out and help all leagues comply' within 60 to 120 days.
Following that, in his first letter to USA cricketers upon being named to the post, USACA's Interim CEO, Nabeel Ahmed, said, "One of my major responsibilities as the CEO is to unify various factions in different regions of the country."
Over 120 days have passed since the publication of the 100-day plan. In true USACA style, it's bridge-building has been all talk and no action. And USACA's trust deficit remains.
USACA's 3-D formula - Deny, Decline, Disengage
With the necessary evil of elections out of the way, USACA appears to have gone back to its "3-D" formula of deny, decline and disengage. National tournaments have not been held in over a year and the USACA website has gone cold.
ICC, the game's international governing body, continues to behave as if all is well at USACA. Ironically, in his report on governance, Lord Woolf wrote that the ICC "has a heavy responsibility to adopt the highest standards."
Also, three leagues that were prevented from voting in the election but whose leaders have had long-standing ties with the present leadership have decided to let bygones be bygones and have rejoined the bandwagon.
Before you start to imagine a glow of congeniality surrounding USACA, it's worth pointing out that four fully compliant leagues have become ambivalent towards USACA. In fact, three of these leagues - Washington Metropolitan Cricket Board, North West Cricket League and Minnesota Cricket Association - have formally expressed support for the American Cricket Federation (ACF), the new organization that has set for itself the lofty goal of "upholding and promoting cricket’s values of transparency, inclusiveness and fairness."
A country divided
By this website's estimates, fewer than 345 clubs or teams are now part of the extended USACA family. The Lone Star State, Texas, has become a USACA bastion - all three Texas leagues remain affiliated with USACA and two of the directors on the national board are from Texas. Florida comes a close second with USACA enjoying the support of leagues that represent 82% of Florida's clubs or teams.
Picture above: In large swathes of the country, USACA has little or no support. Place a cursor on the map to find out estimated % of hard-ball teams or clubs that are affiliated with USACA. [Source: DreamCricket.com]
Outside of Florida and Texas there is hardly any state where USACA can claim authority over cricket. In four of the eight regions - North East, South West, North West, and Central East - USACA does not enjoy the support of at least three leagues needed to constitute a valid region. Similarly, USACA's influence is vastly diminished in Atlantic Region and in New York Regions.
For a majority of USA's leagues and clubs that play hard-ball cricket, USACA has remained as mysterious as Bigfoot - evidence is hard to come by of the organization's existence. By DreamCricket.com's estimate, over 705 hard-ball cricket clubs or teams in the U.S. operate outside of the USACA framework.
By all accounts, ACF is gathering momentum. Just last week, the ACF announced that it had received a formal expression of support from a 12th hard-ball cricket league. According to DreamCricket.com's calculations, the 12 leagues that have expressed support to ACF represent 385 clubs or teams. ACF appears to be gaining strength in New York, New Jersey, New England, Southern California, North West and the midwest.
The unaffiliated
By DreamCricket.com's estimates there are 321 clubs or teams that are not affiliated to either USACA or ACF. These are teams or clubs that have neither paid USACA dues nor have expressed support to ACF. Of these, 209 teams or clubs belong to ten leagues that were part of USACA until their recent disqualification.
A majority of these former USACA leagues have no interest in rejoining USACA. Four of these leagues have informally expressed openness to joining ACF but are awaiting approval of their member clubs to formally express support to ACF.
The remaining 112 clubs have never been integrated with the cricketing fabric - these include clubs and leagues that are thriving in places like Omaha (NE), Pittsburgh (PA), Iowa and Hawaii.
Meanwhile, the ACF is working hard to create an organization that is more representative and inclusive than USACA. ACF's steering committee has held weekly conference calls and the various sub-committees have held meetings of their own. ACF's most recent press release noted that its Constitution Committee had completed a draft of the Constitution of the organization, and that ACF was proceeding with incorporation in Maryland.
ACF is also set to present its first national tournament over the Columbus Day weekend in Los Angeles. The inaugural T20 tournament, hosted by SCCA, will see the participation of a majority of the leagues that have expressed solidarity with ACF.
So there you have it. Some 303 years after USA's first recorded cricket match at the James River plantation, and 47 years after the formation of the national board, this is a country where the national governing body is not recognized in 34 states and does not represent well over 66% of the nation's existing cricketers.
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