36
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 22, 2017
OSCL attempts to re-introduce white balls flop
By Frederick Halley
TORONTO, Canada -- Attempts by the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) to reintroduce white balls into the 2017 season, set to commence in May, were met with mixed reaction by its members at Sunday’s annual general meeting, held at the Agincourt Community Centre, Scarborough here. Confusion reigned over whether the balls should be used for all three of the league’s tournaments, namely the T10, 15-over and 20-over regular season matches with some teams maintaining they should be used for all three while some reasoned they should only be used for the T10 as was done in 2015. On the other hand, some teams complained bitterly that the white balls shouldn’t be used at all, citing safety as their main concerns since they felt the conditions of the grounds here weren’t suitable to that type of balls. After heated debates and deliberations, the OSCL executives decided to shelve the idea, thereby reverting to the use of the supreme balls for the upcoming season. The white balls, which are used exclusively in Guy-
OSCL executive members: Sitting (from left) are Vish Jadunauth, Albert Ramcharran and Terry Mathura. Standing (from left) are Frederick Halley, Bobby Ramlagan, Kim Sue, Ranjan Persaud and Patrick Prashad. ana, New York, Florida and Orlando where international tournaments are being held annually, were introduced here by the OSCL in its T10 tournament in 2015. However, following complaints by members at the 2016 annual general meeting, the league discontinued their use. Among the other major decisions taken at the meeting were to separate the A and B conferences for the T10 and
15-over tournaments with each conference having its own play-off and championship game, all no-balls be free hits and no-balls be called for deliveries above the shoulder in a standing position. Super overs will also be used in case of tied games and no games shall go beyond the scheduled time, except in the case of a tie-breaker. Previously, the A and B conference teams were
Provisional programme released for Guyana Cup Fever horse race meet ORGANISERS of the Guyana Cup Fever horse race meet released a provisional programme for the event set for April 16 at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne, Berbice. The eight-race programme, which carries cash prizes and trophies totalling over $8M and other incentives, is being organised by
the Port Mourant Turf Club in collaboration with Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables. The feature event is for horses classified `B1’ and Lower and carries a first prize of $1M and a trophy for the 1900m race. There will be a 1200m race for `E1’ and Lower West Indies-bred and `E3’ and
Pakistan to West Indies 2017 SCHEDULE OF MATCHES
MARCH Sun 26 1st Twenty20 International Kensington Oval, Bridgetown Thu 30 2nd Twenty20 International Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad APRIL Sat 1 3rd Twenty20 International Queen’s Park Oval Sun 2 4th Twenty20 International Queen’s Park Oval Fri 7 1st One-day International National Cricket Stadium, Guyana Sun 9 2nd One-day International National Cricket Stadium Tue 11 3rd One-day International National Cricket Stadium Sat 15 to Mon 17 Tour Match Trelawny Stadium, Jamaica Fri 22 to Tue 26 1st TEST Sabina Park, Jamaica Sun 30 to Thu, MAY 4 2nd TEST Kensington Oval Wed 10 to Sun 14 3rd TEST Windsor Park, Dominica
Lower US and Canadian non-winners for the 2016 and 2017 season. The winner will earn $600 000 and a trophy. The other events are for horses classified `G3’ and Lower four-year-olds over 1200m. `G3’ and Lower fouryear-old horses will battle in a 1200-metre event and `H3’ and Lower animals that are three years old and are Guyana-bred will contest a 1200m event also. There will also be events for `I’ and Lower three-yearold Guyana-bred maiden horses, `J2’ and `K’ and `L’ class open races. The top horse, the top stable and the top jockey will be rewarded with trophies, compliments of Trophy Stall of Bourda Market. There will also be added attractions on race day such as Bouncy Castle, trampoline, and free kites for the kids. Horse trainers/owners are asked to register their animals with Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063, 2320633) or Irshad Mohamed (664-1650).
bunched together for the T10 and 15-over tournaments and played against the other, depending on the draws but several B division teams felt it was an unfair advantage. Giving an overview of his stewardship, long-standing president Albert Ramcharran described 2016 as one of the most challenging seasons “but thanks to the efforts of our hard-working executives
and the sober heads of most of our players, we have been able to overcome most of the obstacles.” According to Ramcharran, there are a few members within the OSCL ho are bent and making every effort to bring disrepute to the league. He referred to incidents on and off the field as ample proof of his disclosure. Ramcharran however pointed out that he would like to reiterate that while overall, the discipline could be considered quite satisfactory during the last season, a few issues still remained unsettled and worrying but the league intends to deal with them very firmly. “We have no intentions of sitting idly by and let anyone ruin what we have striven to build in 21 years.” Ramcharran also announced that the OSCL will once again engage the umpires prior to the start of the new season to explore and find a common ground on several matters, including the contentious issue of pelting. The OSCL, Ramcharran pointed out, has embarked on an initiative to assist the needy in Guyana on an annual basis and late last year donated cash to the Red Cross
Convalescent Home and for this year, another charitable organisation will benefit. The OSCL president extended sincere thanks to the several sponsors, including Home Trust, Harri Sukhu and Norman Sue Bakery for their continued support. Based on the constitution, only three posts were contested at the meeting, that of vice-president, assistant secretary/treasurer and assistant registrar/statistician. All three incumbents, Terry Mathura, Bobby Ramlagan and Ranjan Persaud respectively were returned unopposed. The entire executives read: Albert Ramcharran – president; Terry Mathura – vice-president; Frederick Halley – secretary/Public Relations Officer; Kim Sue – treasurer; Vish Jadunauth – East end coordinator; Patrick Prashad – registrar/statistician, Bobby Ramlagan – assistant secretary/treasurer and Ranjan Persaud - assistant registrar/statistician. The five members of the disciplinary committee, which is being chaired by Mathura, were also returned unopposed. They are Ian Baldeo, Nandalall Bodo, Nazir Khan, Rudy Bhoopaul and Pooran (Rajin) Roopchand.
Third leg of Cheddi Jagan cycle road race set for Sunday
THE third leg of the Dr Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race is scheduled for Sunday on the Essequibo Coast, beginning at 07:30hrs from Supenaam. According to race organiser Hassan Mohamed, the third leg (which was rescheduled from last Sunday), after wheeling off from Supenaam, the competitors will proceed to Charity before turning back to finish at Suddie. Mohamed explained that the rescheduling of the event was because of the fact that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which was founded by Dr Jagan had organised a Memorial Walk in honour of the party’s late leader and founder as well as a former President of Guyana. The 20th annual event which is eagerly anticipated by local wheelsmen saw Shaquille Agard win the first leg, which was staged along the Corentyne Coast, Berbice, on March 5, in a time of two hours 6 minutes and 54 seconds. The other top positions were occupied by Alonzo
Jamal John Ambrose, Hamza Eastman, Sundays ago, in a winning Paul DeNobrega, Orville time of one hour 54 minutes Hinds and Michael Anthony 34 seconds for the 50-mile leg. Anthony settled for secrespectively. Junior Niles won the ond, Ambrose, Christopher veterans’ category in that Griffith, Dey and Mark Harleg while Curtis Dey won ris were the other top four the junior category and finishers in that order. Dey was the first junior Shane Bourne the mounto cross the finish line while tain bike category. Jamal John won the sec- Niles won the veterans cateond leg, which was staged gory and Shane Bourne the on the West Demerara two mountain bike category.