USA Cricketer : Ram Varadarajan

2012 New Inning Foundation USA Cricket Awards: Woodley Cricket Complex wins Claude Worrell Best Cricket Ground

openingbat — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:26:00 GMT

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By Venu Palaparthi

On June 19, 2009, I wrote on DreamCricket.com promising the American cricket community that DreamCricket.com would launch an award for the Best Cricket Ground in the USA. I also wrote that the award would be named after Claude Worrell, the former SCCA President, whose efforts contributed to the formation of the Woodley Cricket Complex cricket grounds.

I wrote then that "The trophy will be awarded each year and will go to the individual or group who volunteer their time to improve playing facilities in USA."

Three years later, the award became a reality through the support of Ram Varadarajan and his New Inning Foundation. The annual Claude Worrell Best Cricket Ground award comprising a plaque will be given to a league, club, and/or a parks department that is involved with maintaining a facility that is magnificent, well maintained and of the highest playing standard.

For 2012, the winning ground was selected through a popular vote conducted on DreamCricket's Facebook page.

It is a coincidence that when the cricketing populace around the country voted for the best ground, the winner was the field that Claude Worrell helped build.

The 2013 New Inning Foundation Claude Worrell Best USA Cricket Ground award goes to The Leo Magnus Cricket Complex, more commonly known as the Woodley Cricket Complex, a four field facility located in the Los Angeles suburb of Van Nuys. The award will be given to SCCA and it will also recognize the role of the City of LA Recreation and Parks Department.

The complex in Van Nuys was created in 1978 because the Glendale Equestrian Center had taken over the Griffith Park Cricket Association grounds, established in May 1933 by the Hollywood Cricket Club. The equestrian interest was a byproduct of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and equestrian events and polo were planned in the adjoining area. The cricket family, led by the late Claude Worrell, strongly objected to the move and negotiations took place with local council authorities before it was decided that the game could move to what is now the Woodley Park cricket complex.

The SCCA's players literally 'pitched in' and began removing trees around the boundaries. The facility got a fresh lease of life in the 1990s due to Jean Wong's efforts to secure two additional fields in exchange for the older Marder field which became part of a bird sanctuary. The City of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation department spent $250,000 to level the field and provide for irrigation. The entire complex continues to be owned by the Army Corps of Engineers.

When Dr. Atul Rai became president of SCCA, one of the four fields was named for Wong. The Marder field is named after John Marder, who was among the founders of USA Cricket Association in 1963. To the south are the Severn and Wright fields named after Clifford Severn and Ernie Wright respectively. The whole cricket complex is named after Leo "Jingles" Magnus, a former Jamaican cricketer who played for the University Cricket Club.

During the 1990s, Peter Eaton, an expert groundsman from Sussex in England flew down and worked to ensure that the soil balance and porous clay content were just right. More recently, Richard Blackledge has been leading that effort.

The grounds have seen their share of prestigious tournaments. In 1997, the field hosted Jamaica featuring Jimmy Adams and Franklyn Rose. The same year, India A played Australia A at this ground and 5000 spectators gathered to watch VVS Laxman, Brett Lee, Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds here long before their famous rivalry became a thing of the legend in the sub-continent and down under. The ACF T20 hosted by SCCA was held at this facility in 2012.

The Woodley Cricket Complex can accommodate up to 5000 spectators and the league pays for the upkeep of the grounds. A quick look at the league's 2011 budget sheds some light on the amount of care the league takes to maintain this crown jewel of American cricket. During 2011, SCCA budgeted roughly $9,000 for pavilion repairs, $20,000 for the construction of a practice facility, $3,000 for rolling the grounds and roughly $20,000 towards the annual compensation for groundsmen.

[Pictures courtesy of Dwight McCann Photography. Cannot be reprinted without permission.]

USACA reaches settlement with CCA and Varadarajan. Buch to spearhead USACA's youth initiative.

openingbat — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 02:09:00 GMT

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Source: USACA Press Release

USACA announced on July 13th that it had reached a settlement in the legal matter involving Ram Varadarajan and CCA as plaintiffs.

As our readers will remember, on April 13, the US District Court - Northern District of California, denied a preliminary injunction against the April 14th elections on procedural grounds. In its ruling, the court noted that CCA had no standing to represent other member leagues and that Ram Varadarajan had not clearly shown that he had a legally protected interest.

Following the ruling, the plaintiffs filed an appeal on May 15, 2012 in the US Court of Appeals. It was also reported that the clerk had scheduled a case management conference on July 25th.

According to USACA's press release, under the terms of the settlement agreement with Buch and Varadarajan, these complaints would be withdrawn and both sides would 'work cooperatively to advance cricket in America.'

In the press release, Gladstone Dainty, President of USACA, was full of praise for Buch and Varadarajan: “We are pleased to have the legal matters closed, so that we can focus all our energies and resources on rebuilding USACA and US cricket."

"There is plenty of work to be done and we are happy to have the help of dedicated and upstanding individuals like Mr. Ram Varadarajan and Mr. Hemant Buch,” Dainty said.

As widely rumored, USACA simultaneously announced that Hemant Buch has been appointed to spearhead USACA's youth initiative. Buch (pictured above), the co-founder of CCA, was quoted as saying: “I am honored to have the platform within USACA to realize my passion to bring cricket to the youth of America.”

Ram Varadarajan, who has maintained a low profile in the aftermath of his defeat in the controversial April 14th election, was quoted as saying: “I am proud to have led a seminal movement to awaken the conscience of all cricket loving folks in America and beyond. I am optimistic that the impact of my actions will continue to guide USACA and all cricket bodies in the highest standards of service, transparency and governance. I will remain a servant of cricket and will engage constructively with USACA to help cricket thrive in America.”

The USACA press release also noted that the negotiations were coordinated by the new Executive Secretary Kenwyn S. Williams. According to the release, Williams worked tirelessly to have the parties resolve their differences.

USA Cricket: USACA refuses settlement offer in Varadarajan & CCA court case

openingbat — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:03:00 GMT

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By Peter Della Penna (on Twitter)

Judge Lucy Koh’s appeal to both sides in the Varadarajan v. USACA court case to come to a resolution has fallen on deaf ears according to court documents filed today at U.S. District Court in San Jose, California. A motion hearing was held Thursday after which both sides were asked by the judge to negotiate a settlement without her having to intervene.

According to documents filed on Friday, USACA President Gladstone Dainty issued a declaration document in which he states that he asked the USACA board if they would “voluntarily consent to adjourn the election scheduled for April 14, 2012 by 30 days” and whether or not the board would agree that “the independent auditor has the authority to determine questions of eligibility to vote”. Dainty stated that the board responded “No” to both questions by a 7-3 vote.

Lawyers representing Ram Varadarajan and the California Cricket Academy filed a statement to inform that they approached USACA after Thursday’s court hearing and made a formal proposal to resolve the dispute. The document starts off by stating that, “During yesterday’s hearing on Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, the Court acknowledged what appeared to be election irregularities and suspicious activity. However, before ruling on Plaintiffs’ motion, the Court asked the parties to meet and confer in an effort to resolve their dispute.”

Among the items included in the Varadarajan proposal to resolve the dispute were: a 45-60 day postponement of the election to ensure certainty and a final resolution; agreeing on the appointment of a CPA from one of the big four accounting firms to serve as the auditor; accepting a proposal that the “top six criteria” from the Robert Chance compliance audit serve as a way to determine “substantial compliance” by which the independent auditor would then review evidence to determine if a league is eligible to vote; agreeing to make the independent auditor’s ruling final and binding with no more appeals available.

“For reasons we do not understand, USACA refused this reasonable, sensible and principled accommodation,” writes David Marroso, attorney for Varadarajan and CCA. “Instead, USACA insists that its self-interested determination and supposedly impartial ‘appellate committee’ already acted as independent decision makers. However, two (of five) members of that committee publicly excoriated the committee as fraudulent, corrupt and a sham. These two members have ‘no dog in the fight,’ for they are Presidents of leagues allowed to vote—yet what they saw happening was so disturbing they have publicly criticized the unfair process.”

The court documents include emails from both Minnesota Cricket Association President Masaood Yunus and Northwest Cricket League President Faizan Janjua which are critical of the USACA appeals process from which they sat on. Janjua’s email was published Thursday on DreamCricket.com.

Also included in the documents as an exhibit is an email chain between USACA General Manager Manaf Mohamed, Washington Metropolitan Cricket Board President Avinash Varma and newly elected Atlantic Region representative to the USACA board Keith Gill. Varma’s documents show that he is the elected president of the WMCB, yet claims that Gill has usurped his power and falsely claimed to be the president of the WMCB by signing a notary public in order to obtain the league’s voting ballot for the USACA general elections.

“This is a blatant misrepresentation and will have legal ramifications,” writes Varma. Mohamed had written to Varma stating that President Dainty and the rest of the USACA board would take a vote to determine who was the legitimate president of the WMCB. If Gill, a known Dainty ally, were to be acknowledged by the USACA board as the WMCB president, it would overrule the wishes of 14 of the 16 WMCB clubs who held a meeting reaffirming their vote to recognize Varma as the president of the league.

“The President of USACA has NO business interfering in WMCB matters,” writes Varma. “WMCB clubs have spoken and USACA has no choice but to accept their decision. Period.”

USA Cricket: Presidential candidates express their views on election delay

openingbat — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:44:00 GMT

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In 2011, the USA Cricket Association was due to hold regional and national elections with the coveted position of president the most sought after. Several people declared their candidacy only for a series of delays and postponements to occur with the end result that national elections never took place in the calendar year. Every candidate has reacted differently to USACA's decisions to postpone elections but they appear to all be agreed that USACA missed its deadlines.

Atul Ahuja was first to react publicly to the latest postponement when on December 6, 2011, The Atul Ahuja Team campaign issued a press release condemning the postponement. In the press release, the Team noted that it was in favor of leagues being compliant and also in favor that USACA needs to comply with its own deadlines. The team members, in a joint statement, noted that the 'league compliance exercise has been poorly timed and managed, despite popular opinion that this has been done for the express purpose of delaying the election.' The Ahuja Team unanimously called for an early election 'to ensure that the 2012 cricket season can be properly planned and be run with legitimate office-bearers at USACA.'

In a letter to the league presidents on January 3, 2012, Presidential candidate Ram Varadarajan noted that he had filed a formal complaint along with Eastern American Cricket Association (NY) to the USACA board. The complaint is the latest in a series of events that was triggered by the notification by the board that it had decided to postpone the constitutionally required elections. On December 8, 2011, Mr. Varadarajan had written to the board to reconsider its decision. On December 16, the board notified Mr. Varadarajan that it would respond to the letter "shortly" in a communique to league members.

On December 20, 2011, the board sent a letter to league members agreeing to hold an election on March 17, 2012 but refusing to recognize votes of all members that were in good standing as of November 30, 2011. As required by USACA constitution, the complaint was filed within 14 days of the Board's December 20 letter. The complaint, dated December 27, states that the compliance audit is not a prerequsite to vote in regional or national elections, and to this day, the board has not identified any provision of the constitution that authorized it to condition voting rights on full, complete, and satisfactory compliance with the audit.

The complaint calls for USACA to recognize the results of all regional elections held in 2011, including but not limited to the Central East and Atlantic Region elections; for any region whose election hasn’t yet taken place, to hold their election by February 14; to force USACA to not engage in any more delays and hold the national elections no later than March 17; permit all leagues in good standing according to the USACA Constitution to vote in the national elections and allow the leagues until September 30, 2012 to collect, prepare and submit documents in response to the administrative compliance audit. Varadarajan and the EACA have requested that the USACA board notify them by January 9 whether they will agree to the appointment of a mutually agreed arbitrator with the goal of having a hearing no later than January 23. The complaint states that if USACA does not agree to an arbitration hearing, the complainants “will be forced to seek Court relief, including seeking an injunction prohibiting the Board from continuing to disenfranchise its leagues.”

Separately, the New Inning Foundation, the non-profit entity of which Varadarajan is the president, will be funding a program called “Embrace Good Governance” which is designed to assist any USACA league to “shore up its governance issues.” The New Inning Foundation has retained the services of accounting firm ASF Financial Solutions to aid leagues in this endeavor.

Meanwhile, fellow USACA presidential candidate Nabeel Ahmed has issued a statement saying he is against “any action which can ultimately hurt the USACA brand.”

“Writing to ICC and threatening to file a law suit against USACA will not resolve the issues,” Ahmed said in a press release issued on or about January 3, 2012. “If anything, writing to ICC or filing a law suit against USACA, especially by a member who is sitting on LLC appointed by USACA or sitting on USACA board, will hurt USACA, and subsequently hurt LLC as well. This could create a panic situation among the LLC investors, and in the process USA cricket will be the loser, and the LLC might lose its investors. This kind of action by a board member can put LLC in serious jeopardy.”

In an earlier release, dated September 15, 2011, Ahmed voiced concerns about USACA's delaying tactics. "It matters holding the elections on time and and leave the rest to the incoming board with lots of capable people out there who will be elected democratically to run this esteemed organization USACA. I strongly recommend that all the efforts should be made to ensure the elections should take place as announced on schedule and be monitored by the independent auditors as the constitution dictates," Ahmed wrote.

Varadarajan threatens legal action to force USACA elections

openingbat — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:36:00 GMT

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By Peter Della Penna

Ram Varadarajan, who in October declared his candidacy to become the next USACA President, sent an email on Thursday to league presidents notifying them that he has issued a letter to the USACA board of directors, urging them to hold elections immediately. In the email, Varadarajan says that the board has “disenfranchised all USACA league members by postponing the national elections” and that he has hired a law firm to consult with him on the possibility of filing a lawsuit against USACA to force elections to take place.

Varadarajan has scheduled a conference call with league presidents to be held on Saturday December 10 at 2 p.m. EST to discuss “the future of USACA governance, including the appropriate response to the Board’s decision to postpone elections.”

Image (right) - Ram Varadarajan

In his letter to the board, Varadarajan states that “the Board has acted in excess of its authority, in violation of the USACA Constitution and the directives of the International Cricket Council, and in its own self-interest.” While Varadarajan says that he is fully supportive of having a compliance review, he says it is not a prerequisite for elections to proceed.

“The Board members have three-year tenures, not three years plus whatever time is necessary to finalize an ad hoc compliance review. Elections are required to be held by November 30 of each electoral year, not November 30 plus whatever time may be needed to “analyze” league’s submissions. The compliance review is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution and appears to have been originated in the last few months based on a determination that, for tax reasons, the Association would benefit from more rigorous compliance with technical administrative matters.”

Varadarajan concludes his letter by requesting for elections to take place “forthwith and no later than March 1, 2012” and that the board respond to his letter by Wednesday, December 14. If the board does not, Varadarajan says that he will “have no choice but to evaluate all of my options, including filing a lawsuit to force an election.”

Click here to read the entire letter from Varadarajan to the USACA board.

Ram Varadarajan announces candidacy. Offers 'bold new plan' for leadership.

openingbat — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:48:00 GMT

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Comments

In an exclusive interview with DreamCricket.com, California businessman Ram Varadarajan announces his plan to run for president of USACA. The first half of the interview is below. Part two will be published on Thursday.

DreamCricket: Thanks for agreeing to speak to DreamCricket.com and for announcing your candidacy on our website. It has been an eventful three years for you personally. On the professional front, the company you founded in 1997, Arcot Systems, was sold to CA Technologies. Reportedly in an all cash transaction valued at $200 million. How do you feel about that?

RV: It is always good to have the fruits of one’s labor be rewarded. I am happy for myself and all the stakeholders - employees, partners, investors and customers. My team at Arcot and I had spent a decade building this business from the proverbial Silicon Valley startup on a napkin into one of the most respected security and anti-fraud solutions company in the world. Building a successful company is all about leadership, team building, fund raising, gaining confidence in your stock holders and meeting the expectations of your customers. Equally important are qualities such as – highest level of ethical conduct, transparency and communication. I am glad I could, with my team, achieve all of these.

Arcot has a great future, the business continues to do very well and my team is continuing our mission with renewed vigor. While I am still actively engaged with the business at Arcot, I no longer have the pressures that an entrepreneur CEO has. I have the freedom and bandwidth to pursue my interest in US cricket more vigorously. And I truly believe that the lessons and successes of my decade at Arcot can all be put to work once again to make USACA a world class sports institution.

DreamCricket: The perception within USACA circles is that you have stayed away from cricket since you lost the election to Gladstone Dainty. In fact, some think you completely disappeared from the scene until now. What do you tell critics who think you have reemerged around election time?

RV: As I said after the 2008 election, there is a time for politics, but when the political season ends, we need to work together and put cricket first. Because, as you know, cricket in USA has plenty of politics, what it really needs is development.

Gladstone Dainty and the newly elected team got their chance to provide leadership. Had I won that election, I would have expected the same opportunity.

DreamCricket: But since you were not front and center over the last three years, maybe that has led to the perception that you have left the cricketing scene.

RV: Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have not stayed away from cricket and will always serve cricket.

Since the last elections, I have remained active at various levels. I have continued my involvement at the grass roots level in NWR. Nationally, I have supported various cricket initiatives – especially youth activities. I advised sports marketing entities to bring professional cricket to the US. I advised USACA officials on fund raising – even arranging senior level meetings with a key potential sponsor.

I held the first of its kind national forum on youth cricket to stitch together the various youth activities – several good things came out of it including a national repository for cricket statistics – a key finding of that forum. This national statistical repository, which DreamCricket.com is hosting, is financed by my foundation. Additionally several institutions got valuable advice on incorporating as 501(c)3 organizations – increasing their ability to raise funds.

I could go on and on, but I guess the point is that I have been, and will continue to be involved in making USA cricket one of the most successful and vibrant cricket organizations in the world. I know it is a very long haul, but I am certain we will get there. So as I said, I have been in the thick of cricket. Probably, the right thing to say would be that I stayed away from the media and have certainly not been heavily involved politically since the last elections.

DreamCricket: Tell us more about your foundation. Why did you start the New Inning Foundation? What are its activities?

RV: There are plenty of small, individual, laudatory initiatives across America to help grow cricket. But there were none that dreamt big and followed up with execution. My vision is that the success and growth of cricket in USA lies in putting significant money, time, effort, and focus on youth cricket. New Inning Foundation has been created with that single objective in mind. There was certainly a need for a philanthropic foundation devoted to promoting, nourishing and celebrating youth cricket in America. New Inning Foundation achieves this by working symbiotically with community organizations whilst leveraging our financial and administrative resources. The funding is provided by me and a few private donors.

The New Inning Foundation has begun in earnest. Its initial focus is on highlighting and recognizing talent at the youth level. Towards that end we set up the national score repository for youth cricket statistics – it now contains scorecards for youth games at regional and national levels. Over time, this repository has been expanded to all inter-regional and ICC cricket. Now that all the scores are recorded, it also enhances transparency when it comes to selection.

Image (right) - Ram Varadarajan

The other thing it enables us to do as a community is to recognize and celebrate talent. The New Inning Foundation was also among the presenters of the USA Cricket Awards last year. In 2010, 10 cricketers were selected for their achievement including such assessments as performing under pressure and commitment. Awards comprised of a plaque and a cash reward.

New Inning Foundation has established scholarships for free indoor net-practice for deserving junior cricketers. The foundation has also supported the expansion of the USYCA and facilitated equipment donations to schools across USA, funded printing of instructional booklets and promotional material by USYCA for students and teachers.

Also, New Inning Foundation has campaigned very hard and been successful in influencing tournament organizations in US cities to take on youth players – by supporting tournament level awards that recognize youth achievement.

We have also supported college assistance programs for youth players.

I see New Inning Foundation becoming a significant contributor to youth cricket development across America, touching the lives of many aspiring cricketers in this country. It is a first of its kind institution in the US and perhaps worldwide.

DreamCricket: That is very impressive and the USA cricket community appreciates your support of the awards. Coming back to the election in 2008, are you still in touch with the three gentlemen who were on your slate who won that election - John Thickett, John Aaron and Manaf Mohamed. Do you think they delivered on the promises that were made last time around as part of the New Inning mandate?

RV: I am indeed in touch with them as I am with several key actors in US cricket – both in person and electronically. I brainstorm with them on several cricket topics including ways to get USACA on a sound financial footing. These are good friends that I can lean on for ideas. In fact, the successes (albeit few) of the last 3 years have been led or championed by these gentlemen – formation of Cricket Holdings America LLC, being one poignant example.

DreamCricket: How do you rate USACA’s performance over the last three years under the leadership of Mr. Gladstone Dainty?

RV: I contested the last election; I am contesting this one. The reasons are largely the same. I feel that USACA management has lacked structure, organizational leadership and transparency. Over the last three years, we have not really seen a common vision as a result of which problems big and small remain unsolved. A consequence of all of this is that there is factionalism, confusion and despair among the cricket lovers, players, volunteers and elected officials. US cricket could have been taken to greater heights and our youth given the opportunities they deserved. My campaign is therefore about addressing all of these. I am confident that I can remedy this.

In the midst of all this, we must not forget that a few bright spots did appear. Women’s cricket got a start. The Pearls Cup was a good one-off event. I like the revival of the KA Auty Cup. The establishment of Cricket Holdings America LLC was clearly a singular major achievement and I am proud to say that members on my 2008 slate were instrumental is bringing this about along with the President and the board. This did bring much needed funds allowing for many of the cricket tours that the U-19, men and women have made. But increased activity also leads to increased expectations - governance & execution need to keep up with that.

I want to look forward – I know that the situation can be improved significantly. It starts with the top - leadership bringing the cricket community together – that will establish the right priorities, formulate the right structure, team and governance, and energize the participants to take things to the next level.

In my view, the leadership should serve the leagues and has to explain the benefit of the decisions to the membership. More efficient communications are naturally very important, which means the President and the board must seek and take input, be open to criticism. USACA must bring value to the leagues beyond just the right to play for the region or for the US team.

DreamCricket: How did you get involved with CHA, LLC? What is your role as a board member?

RV: As I mentioned earlier, I advised entities that wanted to bring professional cricket to US. I was, therefore, educated in the challenges and opportunities that the LLC presented. Here I was, sitting in the Silicon Valley, home to some of the greatest success stories in corporate America. My own story at Arcot Systems is akin to other Silicon Valley success stories. And I told myself that I must deploy that spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship to cricket administration. Cricket Holdings America LLC presented me with that opportunity. And I accepted. Since being part of Cricket Holdings America LLC, I have executed my duties with the same passion, commitment and leadership that I had for Arcot.

DreamCricket: What is your answer to critics that think that you have been 'silenced' by Mr. Dainty by hanging a CHA board position as a carrot? We have seen a lot of criticism lately centered on how the USACA board was not consulted in making board appointments.

RV: I contested “Dainty the President” in the last elections. I have nothing against “Dainty the person”. I talked to him then, and I talk to him now. I have never been afraid to be critical about the quality of his administration or about decisions made by the administration. So let that be on record. The fact that Dainty invited me to be part of CHA goes to show that I am issue-based and not personality-based.

Now, about the USACA board, the workings of the USACA board are outside my knowledge and influence. There could be several reasons for discord on the USACA board over such appointments including mine – speculating over them is not fruitful.

From my standpoint, I was invited by USACA to take a board seat on Cricket Holdings America LLC. I gave it thought and I accepted because I felt that I was fully qualified to join the board and I was confident that I could add value to the board. The USACA board approved.

I am positive that many of the board members that had misgivings about the process that USACA adopted actually have no issues with my candidature or selection - I am very confident of that. Let me also make it very clear – my services are pro bono – there is absolutely no compensation for my time and effort and I expect none.

DreamCricket: Did you not file your nomination to run for the Regional Representative of the North West Region? Why did you withdraw, preferring instead to join the board of CHA, LLC?

RV: I believe USACA had an objective to expand the number of individuals involved in USACA activities. I was told they did not want one person holding two posts. I could continue to help the NWR region in many ways without having the Regional Representative post – and there were several outstanding individuals interested in the position.

The CHA board position was an entire new way to serve US cricket interests; I felt I was uniquely qualified and I am privileged to serve. I will serve US cricket at every opportunity that I have.

DreamCricket: Coming to the process or deficiency of processes at USACA, what would you have done differently? Do you feel that the USACA governance would have been more transparent had you been at the helm? With respect to the commercial deals and with respect to consensus building that has been lacking.

RV: Instead of indulging in hypotheses, let me tell you what I will do differently to immediately improve transparency and confidence. I have a bold new plan for governance and leadership. I will delineate, decentralize, and bring about transparency. Let me explain:

On “delineation”: First, I will separate executive management of USACA from cricket administration. The latter should be left to experts who should work without interference from the executive. The process of appointment of coaches, selectors, selection criteria, etc., these are administrative duties and these processes will be transparent and published.
Second, I will personally take up the job of mending our fences with the ICC and seek their active financial and governance help in putting USACA back on track. Third, I will introduce term limits: Presidents – max of two terms. Term limits are important for smart governance.

Coming to decentralization, USACA has become a large organization and it needs organizational acumen befitting its size. I will delegate more to the VPs and other board members. Everyone in my team will have a well-established portfolio of duties and responsibilities. I will let them perform their duties without interference but with a clear expectation of accountability and ethics. I will also move decision making and funds to the leagues and regions, as a rule. Decentralization also would mean that the administration would have to become more predictable – cricket calendars, board meetings and the like should be on a schedule. Once again, not rocket science; that is how successful companies operate.

Finally, I will bring about transparency. In my administration, all board meetings will have an open and closed session. Most of the cricket business can be discussed in open sessions. The open session will be open to all the league presidents. After all, the board is working on their behalf. This in itself will make the working of the board more civilized and productive –the league presidents can see for themselves what is going on. In the closed session, we will discuss any confidential aspects and personnel matters. The structure, conduct and governance of this board will be no different than how it is done in all successful companies globally. Also, in an effort to improve transparency, I will have town hall meetings every quarter so that the broader cricket community can come together, ask, criticize and learn.

This is a short list but this is how I think change can be ushered in. As President, my role will be to set the right tone at the top. Everything else follows from there.

______________________

Part 2

DreamCricket: Let us talk about the brief and stuttering engagement with the international community.

RV: Having international exposure is critically important for advancing US cricket. That is one reason why our relationship with the ICC needs to be rock solid.

There are two types of international exposure – one where we get professional teams to play in the US – once again, The Pearls Cup is an example of this. Under the LLC agreement, such activity will be organized and managed by the Cricket Holdings America LLC.

The Pearls Cup was a watershed event. It validated that USA could be a destination for cricket and that we could conduct such an event. The event, ground and the financial results from the event clearly need to be improved – however, it provided a critical learning.

The second is where our cricket players play with teams from other nations. The bilateral matches against Jamaica, Canada are all very good for our players. We cannot improve as a team by just playing ICC tournaments.

I also applaud the resumption of the K.A. Auty Cup for another reason. It is a long overdue celebration of a truly historic series. I think USA vs. Canada tradition, with some good marketing, can recapture some of the past glory.

DreamCricket: Do we need a CEO? What are your thoughts on Don Lockerbie's departure?

RV: Absolutely, the role of the CEO is critical for any organization and USACA is no exception. If elected, one of my top priorities will be to fill that post with a competent, committed and respected individual.

I worked well with Mr. Lockerbie. Very soon after his appointment, I met with him and offered my assistance. We discussed various options and strategies – including ways of raising funds for USACA. I am not privy to the exact circumstances leading to his departure.

DreamCricket: What makes you want to contest again? How different is this election from the last one in 2008?

RV: I ran last time because I did not see any other candidate stepping in to lead or bringing change to US cricket. There was a leadership vacuum. There were plenty of folks critical of the then president’s performance – but nobody was willing to make the effort to challenge the status quo. So I stepped in to serve US cricket. I think it was a watershed event.

The campaign that I ran was exemplary. I was a virtual unknown and I invested time to meet league presidents and the cricket community, understanding issues and putting together a slate of candidates from across the country and more importantly I spelt out a platform – that platform is still visible at www.newinning.com

This time, the situation is more acute and the stakes are higher. However, this time the electorate is more informed. The change that is required is more than just running tournaments and complaining. It is more fundamental. It is about restoring cricket to its glorious track in the US. It is about having the leadership, vision and the executive skills to manage a set of diverse interests. I am confident that I can deliver on all those grounds.

DreamCricket: Last time around, you lost by three votes. In fact, one vote in your favor was knocked out due to a technical disqualification. Much has been written about a handful of bogus leagues in 2008, especially in Central East region. Do you agree that things would have turned out differently if bogus leagues were not allowed to vote? What needs to change with respect to the voting process?

RV: The way I see it, I lost by three votes in spite of my message being spot on. There were structural reasons for the loss. First, as you pointed out, there were several fake leagues and they were obviously not voting for me. Second, some legitimate leagues were disqualified from voting on technicalities – if they were allowed to vote, they would have likely supported me. Third, I am a skeptic when it comes to proxy voting. This is pure evil.

What most readers don’t realize is that in the USACA elections proxy voting is allowed. That means a league president can sign over his ballot to another influential official, say a regional director. There is inherently a fear of reprisal. The regional director may retaliate against a league within the region if the league does not vote for the candidate supported by the regional director. This practice must stop. All voting must be by secret ballot. USACA must set aside funds for the league presidents to travel and vote in person. Or they must authenticate the vote through other means. Technology has evolved to facilitate that.

Of late, there is a drive to review the legitimacy of the leagues. I welcome this compliance drive. Had it been in place three years ago, I am confident that I would be the incumbent President.

DreamCricket: What is the way forward in the current situation? People want an election but it is an open secret that there are bogus leagues.

RV: We need a strict, fair and expeditious way to root out the egregious violators. People are skeptical of the current compliance process for a variety of reasons and some of the critics view it as a political tool to silence opponents. The skepticism also stems from timing - it is an election year. I can understand why people are frustrated. But as I have said, we must give this compliance process a chance.

If your question is should we have not initiated a compliance examination sooner, absolutely, I would say yes. USACA should have encouraged a compliance mindset all along, and the membership process should have been well thought through from the beginning.

But once again, we have no option but to look at the future and the changes we want to bring in. If elected, one of the top priorities of my administration will be to make sure that membership is handled in an even handed, transparent, consultative and fair manner.

DreamCricket: USACA published a revised election timeline after the board meeting this past weekend. Do you think the election will be held according to this new schedule?

RV: I am certain it will. The electorate wants an election this year. Remember, the league presidents are the boss – the constitution is the law - not the president or board.

DreamCricket: Of late, there has been a lot of unpleasantness. Elections voided; massive distrust on the board; the Secretary has been suspended. Central East’s regional representative is awaiting recognition despite being voted to this role by a majority of the Central East’s leagues. Atlantic Region’s fate hangs in balance. How will you deal with such a thing if it happens under your watch?

RV: Leadership is about bringing people together towards a common mission. Factions arise when there is no transparency or communication about goals and the process to achieve them. It is simple, but has to be practiced diligently. I will run an administration where the objectives are that it be transparent, accepting of criticism, and predictable.

DreamCricket: But what do you think of the leadership and their methods such as suspension and locking out opponents. How do you feel about that?

RV: Clearly organizational cohesiveness has eluded USACA, so the methods of old have not worked. The beliefs that have worked for me are being transparent, inclusive, fair, and process driven. It worked for me for 30 years of my professional life, and an even longer personal life. I don’t see those beliefs failing me when I am the President of USACA.

DreamCricket: On the field, in the last three years, starting off at Division 5, USA went to 2011 Division 3 but was relegated to 2012 Division 4. In the U-19 WCQ held in Ireland, USA finished seventh among the associates failing to qualify. What is your assessment?

RV: This is clearly a cause for worry. I have spoken personally to US coaches. The good news is that I have been assured that we have the requisite raw skill set in the US. What is not present is the supporting infrastructure to amplify it, polish it and turn it into a winning machine.

Let me explain – USACA has done nothing to improve playing conditions – there is no increase in turf wickets, the number of qualified coaches and umpires have not increased in any meaningful way. Even when assistance from the ICC is available – these are being frittered away in mismanagement. We have to increase the pool of qualified players and have a well understood selection process so that players understand that skills and performance will be rewarded. Umpiring too should be consistent and standards are urgently needed.

I also believe that we need to redouble our efforts to attract a greater cross section of US society to cricket. I have been encouraging this by supporting Jamie Harrison’s efforts at USYCA - with schools across the country – for which I have been bestowed the “Patron of Youth Cricket” honor. Similarly, we need to redouble our efforts to attract girls to cricket and continue to nurture our nascent efforts with women players.

We also need to encourage and equip US teams to play the 20/20 format without taking away from other formats. This format will become an important avenue for professional cricket in the US and our players need every opportunity to make a mark and be noticed in this format.

DreamCricket: What needs to be done for the players? How will you change things at the age-group level and senior level?

RV: USA has shown that once it focuses on a sport, it can improve its rankings on merit. The best place to start this is at age-group level where disparity among talent is not so huge that it cannot be bridged through channeling resources. I will make such resources available both at national and league levels. By delineating executive management from cricket professionals – there will be a clear separation of duties. The cricket experts and the players themselves will guide us on the coaching, facilities, stipends, match practice and other needs of players. I will, along with the rest of the executive management, generate the funding to fulfill these needs.

In my view, there is nothing to prevent the US U-19 team from placing in the top four by 2020. That means we need to start in 2012 at the U11 level. Once we aim for that, the success in the adult tournaments will follow naturally.

Being on the board of the CHA LLC, I also see another advantage that we can bring to bear – we can provide a professional career path for US cricket players.

DreamCricket: There were some positive steps like bringing in Dipak Patel to coach the U-19 squad for the 2010 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand, Robin Singh was brought in to coach the U-19 team in Ireland, etc. Of course, a lot of money was borrowed or drawn down from CHA to accomplish some of these things.

RV: Both of these gentlemen are fine individuals and I have great respect for them. Every team out there has good coaches. The world of cricket is very competitive and there is no substitute for hard work and a goal-oriented approach.

We cannot have a haphazard process of selection and then throw the team together at the last minute. It is unfair on the players and the coaches. It is a miracle that we did as well as we did in some of the tournaments. Yes, with a little luck we would have qualified for the U-19 World Cup. But we need to give luck an opportunity to swing our way by assiduous preparation.

DreamCricket: You know Nabeel Ahmed, Kenvyn Williams, and Maq Qureshi have already announced their candidacy. Looks like there are others too waiting to declare their candidacy, what do you think is important for the voters as they figure out who to vote for?

RV: I am glad that there are contestants – that shows that the electorate cares. I am counting on the fact that the electorate is better informed. We are living in times where the world is rising up and demanding good governance and leadership. The time is now for the old ways to fall and new leadership and governance to take root. My resume and track record clearly set me apart from the other candidates – I will take my message to the league presidents – they know what is important and I am sure they will make a wise choice.

DreamCricket: What is your financial vision?

RV: Putting USACA on a firm financial footing will be one of my highest priorities as president. A financially stable USACA can then support a number of programs. I firmly believe that empowerment at the local level is essential for USACA. It is consistent with my philosophy to decentralize to the leagues and regions wherever possible.

USACA has two fundamental duties. First, it has to provide the framework, structure and governance for growing the sport, and fund the regions and leagues to execute at the local level. Second, it has to provide a forum for teams to play competitive cricket within the US and outside – with other nations and clubs.

I will put in place the following financial model to support this in an efficient way. USACA must set up funds for national tournaments and the duties that it has direct responsibility for. USACA must set the goal posts, provide the framework; appoint national level custodians for coaching, umpiring and the like; and spell out the standards that it expects leagues and regions to maintain. Then, USACA should get out of the way. USACA should become a medium for channeling funds to the regions and leagues to achieve the objectives. For example, USACA can specify that leagues start youth programs and women’s programs; meet the set standards for umpiring, coaching, facilities and the like – and provide funds to achieve these. Refresh grants would depend on the progress that the leagues make.

We have to get to a state where USACA is making meaningful contributions to the regions and leagues so that they can advance. My administration will accomplish all these - we will raise funds, set goals, incentives, and reward the right behavior.

DreamCricket: What is your organizational vision?

RV: Once elected, the USACA organization should understand that its job is to serve the cricket leagues in the US and not be the master. I will ensure that there is separation of administrative function from cricket management function. This is the delineation that I spoke about earlier. Among other appointments, there will be a national coach to orchestrate a national blueprint and support local activity. The president is the chief administrator not the chief selector. None of this is news for people who have been involved in professional, winning organizations. My goal would be to bring the same tried and tested models of success to cricket in the US.

As mentioned earlier, I will appoint a CEO at the earliest possible. Also, every officer on the board will have a portfolio and the ability and responsibility to execute competently and ethically. The task on hand is very large and requires more specialized skills than the board will possess. This is where volunteers can come in. We are blessed to be in a country where there is phenomenal skill and a spirit of volunteerism. I will broaden the management team by bringing on a 20 person national team of volunteer-leaders for special tasks like event organization, PR, NCAA relations, local government liaison, sponsorship generation, high school outreach, etc. We can also amplify our youth and women's cricket development with specialized help.

I will increase professionalism in cricket operations by appointing a paid national coach and converting most of the cricketing positions to be paid ones. We have for far too long counted on volunteers to go above and beyond. Volunteerism is of course very welcome; however, it cannot be a substitute for professional attention. We need a scalable option that will bring in the skill levels that we need to improve the quality of our game. So in my administration, all officials – coaches, managers, and umpires – will be compensated for their time and effort.

DreamCricket: Where do you see USACA in three years under your leadership?

RV: I see USACA as a harmonious, well-functioning organization. It will have an excellent relationship with the ICC – be a model. It will function predictably. It will be decentralized – we need to push the benefits and much of the decision making down to the leagues. The leagues are the building blocks of cricket in the US. I expect the number of leagues to have increased. USACA will have plenty of funds to carry out its normal cricketing activities – the majority of funds reaching the regions and leagues. USACA will also be working in close cooperation with the Cricket Holdings America LLC thereby giving a path for our cricket players to play professionally. I expect we would have improved cricketing conditions -- built turf wickets, have a fully functioning coaching and umpiring infrastructure and so on. I would also predict that all our cricketing teams will fare better – men, women and youth.

DreamCricket: Maq Qureshi has been spending a lot of his own money in promoting cricket - thereby filling a vast gap at the grassroots level. He has also run a successful tournament in Florida. Nabeel’s generosity over the years has also been written about on DreamCricket.com and elsewhere. You too have been donating through your organization but with longer-term goals. And all of you are running in an election. You are putting leagues in a tough situation, especially since the leagues have benefited from the generosity of all of you.

RV: Any one working to expand the cricket action is doing the game a service. It is all very welcome. There are many others who are also writing large checks but are not getting nor seeking recognition. But this election is about vision, leadership, integrity and governance. It is not about “cricket philanthropy” it is about “cricket leadership”.

DreamCricket: Your claim to fame is your network, integrity, executive management, and corporate track record. But in this economy, do you think you can raise the kind of money and build the kind of support that USACA needs?

RV: Absolutely yes. There is always business going on in every economy. A good idea and a good team will always be successful. It is all about the value that we bring. There is plenty of money available for cricket – spent by American sponsors on foreign soil. We need to sell the value of being associated with an upcoming US sport – I know how to sell concepts and value. I have raised over $100 million doing exactly that – in some instances on the basis of an idea on a PowerPoint slide. Even in the worst economic climate there is a dearth of good ideas and always a shortage of capable, committed and proven talent.

Not to forget, another source of funding for USACA is through Cricket Holdings America LLC. I will ensure that we do our part to enable success of the LLC. That will guarantee us a significant stream of revenue every year. I already serve on the LLC board – so it will be easier to work to common benefit.

DreamCricket: Nabeel Ahmed has been talking of changing the way USACA is run. How do you feel about his decision to resign and his candidacy for the election?

RV: I respect Nabeel as a gentleman and a sincere patron of cricket. But here is someone who has played two innings as VP and USACA has not improved much. If you have a seat at the table, you must do your very best to change the ways of the organization.

Escaping is not leadership – the ability to stand up and steer the organization to a righteous path is what is wanted today. I welcome Nabeel as a well wisher and patron of cricket – but not at the helm of this organization.

DreamCricket: Aren’t you late to the election? I mean, others have announced months ago and the leagues may have committed themselves to them.

RV: I saw no advantage in making a press announcement when the election itself was not announced. My own campaign is ongoing and it is progressing very well. I have already begun conversations with the league presidents. I am glad to report that they are very engaged – tough but fair. Most importantly, I am very pleased and energized with the response and support that I am getting.

I will run a professional campaign, just like I did last time around. My election website is www.USAcricketVision.com and I encourage everyone to visit. My contact information is posted there as well.

DreamCricket: Thanks for your time.

RV: You are very welcome. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to the US cricket community.

USACA announces results of October 22, 2011 board meeting

openingbat — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:58:00 GMT

Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook. Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

Media Release - USACA Board of Directors Meeting – Florida October 22, 2011

A USACA board meeting was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to cover a range of governance and management issues ranging from approval of an independent compliance auditor, election auditor to the timing of regional and national election.

In attendance were Gladstone Dainty, Michael Gale, Rafey Syed, John Thickett, Ahmed Jeddy, Shelton Glasgow, Krish Prasad, Ajay Athavale, Masood Syed, Nasir Javid and Manaf Mohamed and the meeting ran from 12.15pm to 6.00pm to accommodate for all the major items on the agenda. Below are the key sets of actions, resolutions and agreements that were made at the meeting.

A significant number of key items and issues were covered with the core focus being the need to reach organizational and statutory compliance levels for the forthcoming national and regional elections. Dates and a clear process that is compliant with the USACA constitution was laid out with unanimous approval from the board on each of the key resolutions. The hiring of independent auditor as well as independent auditors to supervise each of the regional board elections is a critical step forward in transparent governance at all levels.

The following items are the key resolutions and actions the board agreed to.

Regional resolutions

- Central east region - the establishment of a special sub committee to investigate if correct constitutional process was followed to remove Mr. Akhtar Masood Syed as regional representative. Until the sub committee reports Mr. Akhtar Masood Syed remains as the regional representative.

- For the North East Region the current suspension remains in force until the independent auditor’s and compliance reports are delivered, (see dates below).

Board member resolutions

- The suspension of Executive Secretary John Aaron was up-held for a period of six (6) months from the date the suspension was imposed by the President. This was a unanimous vote.

- The appointment of Ahmed Jeddy as chair of the Cricket Committee to replace Krish Prasad. Messrs.’, Keith Gill, Manaf Mohamed and Ajay Athavale were also appointed to the Cricket Committee as members.

Compliance resolutions

- The unanimous re-appointment of PKF as the independent auditor and tax preparation for FY2011. This is a critical element of ICC compliance.

- The President and Treasurer were authorized to sign and file the organization’s federal and state tax returns post the compliance review and by the November 15th deadline.

- The unanimous appointment of Robert Chance, Esq. to conduct a Compliance Review of all USACA Leagues prior to the commencement of the regional and then the national organizations board. This is critical for ICC compliance

- All Compliance Review response must be accompanied by a signed sworn affidavit by each Leagues’ President and Secretary assenting to Article III Section 9 of USACA Constitution

Cricket Holdings America LLC (CHALLC)

- Ratification of the important agreement between USACA, NZC, Top Bloom and On Site [sic] establishing Cricket Holdings America LLC (CHALLC).

- Ratification of the appointment of the following persons as USACA representatives on the Board of CHALLC; Gladstone Dainty, John Thickett, Dr. Asif Ahmad and Ram Varadarajan.

Regional and National Elections

It is important for ICC compliance that the elections for regional boards and a new USACA board are completed, in the correct sequence before the end of December 2011. In order to deliver compliance to the constitutional process the USACA board will hire an independent auditor to supervise and be present during all of the regional board elections. All regions must hold elections following the compliance review to the schedule below.

Specific election procedures for the regional boards are available inside the USACA constitution and must be complied to. This is available at www. USACA.org

- Oct 24 Nominations open for the regional elections

- Nov 8 Compliance report received and reviewed by USACA board

- Nov 12 Leagues are informed of their compliance (USACA report)

- Nov 19 All regional elections to have occurred

- Nov 20 - 27 USACA National Board nomination process

- Dec 3 Completed background checks on USACA nominees

- Dec 19 Return of ballots from compliant leagues

- Dec 21 Announcement of the USACA board results for the next board

Contact Manaf Mohamed, General Manager, with questions.

Ram Varadarajan in the news

openingbat — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:19:00 GMT

Ram Varadarajan (unsuccessfully) ran for President of USA Cricket Association in 2008 but has mostly played a non-political behind-the-scenes role as a benefactor of worthy initiatives since that time. In April, Ram launched a monthly call but, due to unspecified commitments, the calls have been put on hold.

Yesterday, Ram and the company he co-founded, Arcot Systems, were in the news.

Here is an excerpt from Business Week:

CA Technologies said Monday that it is paying $200 million to acquire Arcot Systems Inc., a privately held company that provides authentication and fraud prevention software, in a move to boost its security offerings. Arcot's products, offered via onsite software or through its own hosted servers, help prevent fraudulent transactions for about one million online credit card transactions each day. The all-cash deal is expected to close by the end of September.

"Identity is a critical area for security whether you're talking about in-house or the cloud, and with 120 million identities verified by our solutions today, we bring a strong, solid recurring revenue base as well as sources of new growth opportunities for CA Technologies," said Ram Varadarajan, Arcot president and CEO, in a statement.

Bay Area gets its first turf wicket at Cupertino

openingbat — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:10:00 GMT

By a historic 4-1 vote on March 17th, Cupertino City Council approved the first turf wicket in the Bay Area. The turf field will be located adjacent to the Cupertino library and will feature an outfield that will be mowed to exacting international standards.

California Cricket Academy will share the cost of laying the pitch and also cover any maintenance costs over and above the $5,000 that the city will spend. The field, which is expected to be ready by June, has a shorter boundary which makes it ideal for junior and women’s cricket where a 55 yard boundary is deemed sufficient.

Pic (Right): The current cricket field adjacent to the Cupertino library will be upgraded to international standards with a turf wicket. [Courtesy; Google Earth]

Hemant Buch, the Chairman of the Western Region for USACA, was among the leading proponents of upgrading the pitch to turf.   Expressing his thanks to the Cupertino City Council, the Mayor, the City Manager David Knapp and Park Director Mark Linder, Mr. Buch said “I am extremely pleased with the outcome.   It is a historic step for junior cricket in the Bay Area and we are open to sharing our experience with others in this region and in cities around the country.”

Mahesh Nihalani, a member of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, was instrumental in obtaining support for the idea among the City Council.   Mr. Nihalani, a recipient of Cupertino’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year award in 2009, called the development a natural next step in the evolution of the game in Cupertino.

“This is another milestone in a journey that began in 2003 when the first seeds of cricket were sown by California Cricket Academy (CCA).   The Councilmen, both present and past, have been supportive of the efforts to promote cricket,” Mr. Nihalani said. Mr. Nihalani said that there is a lot of goodwill and cooperation for the sport, and that was because of the active canvassing for support by Cupertino’s grassroots volunteers like Hemant Buch and Ram Varadarajan.

Cupertino resident Ram Varadarajan, who ran unsuccesfully for President of USACA in 2008, called it a good investment in the future of the city and in the future of cricket in the country. “Cupertino is generally known as the headquarters of Apple, but among the cricket playing community, the city will now be identified with youth cricket.”

In fact, that may already be the case! A photo of a junior cricket match features prominently on the city's website alongside photos of headquarters buildings of Cupertino's more famous high-tech tenants!

Mr. Varadarajan reiterated that the goal must be to promote the game beyond its immigrant base. “One positive consequence of this increased popularity of cricket here is that it becomes easier to take the next step, which is to introduce cricket to the mainstream,” he said.

The same thing had happened to other sports like table tennis and badminton, ‘Fees collected from those games are now producing a financial boon for the city,’ the San Jose Mercury News quoted Vice Mayor Wong as saying.

Calling the step a “forward thinking” one, Mr. Buch thanked Raj Padhi and Abrar Ahmad for offering their support in converting thought to action. “Abrar Ahmad will be the consultant to the city for the pitch,” Mr. Buch said.

Raj Padhi already has plans for using the turf wicket for the national women’s tournament in June. "For cricket players, playing on an official turf wicket is a dream come true. It's the real challenge," Mr. Padhi, USACA Director for the Western Region, told San Jose Mercury News. The June tournament will feature four teams from across the country and will bring a lot of attention to Cupertino. "My hope is that the tournament will spur a whole new energy about the game." Padhi said.

CCA's USA Junior Cricket Tournament 2008 to go international

openingbat — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:57:00 GMT

After successfully conducting the National Junior Cricket tournament in 2006 and 2007, host California Cricket Academy recently announced the Third USA National Junior Cricket Tournament.

The tournament will be conducted in the Bay Area between June 19th and 22nd, 2008.   Games will be held in Cupertino, Santa Clara and Gilroy for Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 age categories.

The 2007 edition of the tournament was an unprecedented success.   Over 500 spectators jostled for space along the boundary of the Santa Clara cricket groung.   Another 3000 witnessed the game online after the organizers made arrangements to web cast the game live via ePrasaran.

For 2008, Ram Varadarajan, Chairman of the Tournament Committee will lead a team of experienced organizers including Kinjal Buch, Naresh Sadasivan, Ajay Athavale, Sunil Tagare, Srini Srinivasan, Vijay Pradhan and Chandrashekharan Trimurthi.

Numerous innovations are planned for 2008. In addition to live web casts, the organizers are planning to organize computerized scoring and ball-by-ball updates for the important matches. Also, neutral umpires are expected to be flown in for the tournament.

Perhaps the most significant development for 2008 is the invitations sent out to independent cricket academies in India and Singapore. If these academies accept the invitation, this year’s tournament will have created a precedent that is unheard of in USA cricket. Junior cricketers will not only benefit from the enhanced competition in the tournament, the interaction may lead to more international tours in the future. This will mark an important milestone in the development of cricket in this region.

NewInning.com

openingbat — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:58:00 GMT

Ram Varadarajan, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur with a solid track record is running for USACA against the incumbent Gladstone Dainty. Ram's candidacy is great news for USA cricket. Finally, there is a good chance that someone with vision and application will take over USACA. I really hope he wins. If he loses, then cricketers will end up with with another 3 years of stagnation.

Check out their aptly titled website newinning.com.