Give The Constitution A Safe Passage

By Orin Davidson
Just when the cricket fraternity was lulled into a sense of security, relative to improvement in the affairs of United States cricket, feelings of a return to the dark days of the past are upon us once again.

The Centrix arrangement seems potentially beneficial in a big way for years to come and our senior and junior teams are making everyone proud performance-wise, but it seems all of those 2006 highlights could amount to nothing with the looming confrontation between clubs and the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA).

All along one was given the impression that the clubs’ approval of USACA’s new constitution was automatic. Not so now apparently.

According to a Cricinfo website report, deep feelings of resentment is welling up among the representatives of the 600-odd clubs involved.

“One regional president made his views clear. “There are a number of so called clubs that are nothing but bogus clubs. I challenge this administration to conduct a through independent audit of all clubs in all regions to see if they really play cricket or if certain individuals chose to pay $30 per club time eight per League (i.e. $240 per year) to ensure they have enough leagues and enough clubs to vote, “ the website reported.

Well this actually is not fresh news. For the longest while cricket officials around the country have been working around and with clubs that were nothing more names in existence.

And to make it to a problem now, would be a steep departure from the norm, which however, should not be condoned, but cannot be eradicated overnight.

The report added. “Cynics claim it is little more than an exercise in manipulation. Each of the regions will elect a representative to the USACA board, to gain control of the regions and you effectively run the USACA. The new clubs may well decide whether the current regime is allowed to carry on or not.”

Again this is nothing new either. But it gives the impression that the Dainty administration was not on top of the situation in the run-up to dispersing the constitution for approval.

As things stand now, the administration’s enactment of the document seems in jeopardy which means United States cricket could face another spell in the doldrums.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has already made its position clear where the elections are concerned. They have to be held by the end of March 2007, failing which all ties will be severed.

This is a situation we endured and recovered from within the last two years, but can ill afford again, not now or ever in the future.

It is why the enactment of the constitution means so much to the future of this country’s cricket future.

Regardless of the imperfections inherent among clubs presently, this is not the time for us to bicker and cast vindictiveness to wreck the entire process.

All of the grouses have to be forgotten now and left to be sorted out at a later date.

We have to think about the young stars in waiting — the Gregory Sewdials, Akeem Dodsons, Andre Kirtons, Karan Ganesh and all the other exciting young talent spread across the land from Florida to California, would be wasted with another ICC ban.

Not to mention the Susil Nadkarnies and Rashard Marshals already ensconced in the senior squad.

These youngsters deserve the support of we the adults to take our cricket to its desired place among the world’s best teams.

However, it will not happen if some of us cannot see the big picture and derail the constitution’s passage just for the sake of vindictiveness.

The future is in our hands. And now is no better time for us to show the type of maturity we are all capable of.

We have no choice other than giving the constitution a safe passage.
Orin Davidson Column Homepage