WICUA Secretary Johnson lauds CCUA for producing top quality umpires

WEST Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) Secretary, Vivian Johnson; Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) President, Shiv Persaud; Ontario Twilight Softball Cricket League (OTSCL) President, Azeem Khan; and of-

World Cup duo among 29 players chosen for high performance camp

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Cricket West Indies has chosen 29 players to train at the High Performance Camp at Coolidge Cricket Ground here, in preparation for next year’s ICC Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

The group includes the duo of left-handed batter, Jordan Johnson, and right-arm fast bowler, Isaiah Thorne, both of whom featured at last year’s Under-19 World Cup staged in the Caribbean.

Johnson scored 69 runs from four appearances while Thorne grabbed four wickets from four outings.

A third player, top-order batsman Justin Jaggessar, played two Youth One-Day Internationals on the tour of England two years ago, but failed to turn out in the World Cup.

The camp, which got underway Tuesday and runs until March 9, will focus on “targeted coaching sessions and physical preparations” and will also include three 50-over practice matches.

ficials of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs, Hardatt Ramcharran and Kim Sue were among the special invitees when the Canada Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA) held its Appreciation Lunch last Sunday at District Lounge, Pickering, Ontario, Canada.

The CCUA also used the occasion to present certificates to several of its members who were successful at different levels of its examinations while a few received WICUA certificates.

In brief remarks, WICUA Secretary, Johnson, lauded the CCUA for its role in producing top quality umpires over the years, pointing out that the governing body, which the CCUA is affiliated to, is proud of the achievements.

Johnson urged the CCUA executives to continue their excellent job while congratulating all the recipients of certificates.

SCA president, Persaud, also spoke glowingly of the relationship between his entity and the CCUA, describing it as a “family” since three executives of the SCA also serve in the same capacities on the SCA. An elated Persaud also referred to two of his executives on the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL), Vice-president Dharmendra Kumar and his wife Dina Jaipersaud attaining their CCUA Level One umpiring status.

OTSCL President

Khan, who presented a plaque to the CCUA, pointed out that the umpires, under the aegis of the CCUA, are doing a tireless and unthankful job but have been excelling in their endeavours over the years. The plaque read: “In recognition of the Canada Cricket Umpires Association for their dedication to umpire and scorers training and the promotion of cricket in Canada.”

Speaking on behalf of the OMSCC, Kim Sue also paid tribute to the CCUA, complimenting the standard of umpiring by its members and wished the association well in its future endeavours.

CCUA president, Albert Ramcharran, promised that the Appreciation Lunch will return to being an annual affair after it wasn’t held for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons. He reminded those present that the CCUA Annual General meeting was set for Sunday, March 5 while the annual training seminars start the following weekend, March 12. Both will be held at Number 43 Police Division, Scarborough, Ontario.

Among those collecting certificates on Sunday were Ramnarine Prashad, who is a fully qualified West Indies umpire and Dina Jaipersaud, one of two women who wrote the CCUA Level One exam last year. The other, Indira Singh, who also passed the exam, wasn’t present at the function. (Frederick Halley)

“This camp is all about the importance of the development of West Indies cricket and this is laying the foundation for the future of our game in the region,” said chief youth men’s selector, Robert Haynes.

“This is not just about playing in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup next year, but also about developing the overall player on and off the field.

“We have some very talented players in this group and we know they will do very well. We still have the age-group tournaments later this year where more players can put in performances and earn selection.”

The selection of players was based on their performances during age group tournaments last year and further opportunity will be provided to impress selectors during CWI’s age group tournament later this year.

Meanwhile, Rohan Nurse, the former assistant coach of the West Indies Under-19s, has been appointed as the new Talent Pathway Manager by CWI, and has been tasked with designing and spearheading the players preparation for the Under-19 World Cup.

CWI said Nurse will “lead the day-to-day management of the development squad as part of his wider high-performance role managing our best young talent across the region.”

He will be joined during the camp by assistant coaches Nikita Miller and Rohan Clarke; specialist wicketkeeping coach, Nick Wilton; high performance manager, Graeme West; coach development manager, Chris Brabazon; along with Steve Liburd, the West Indies Women’s Under-19 head coach.

SQUAD – Jacen Agard, Jewel Andrew, Brian Barnes, Solomon Bascombe, Golcharan Chulai, Mavindra Dindyal, Joshua Dorne, Tarrique Edward, Reon Edwards, Justin Jaggessar, Deshawn James, Orlando James, Jordan Johnson, Devonie Joseph, Jaden Lorde, Micah McKenzie, Joshua Morris, Stephan Pascal, Jatario Prescod, Andrew Rambaran, Rampertab Ramnauth, Tamarie Redwood, Nathan Sealy, Isai Thorne, Devin Tyson, Yanique Watley, Steven Wedderburn, Adrian Weir, Trevaun Williams.