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WEEK ENDING June 14, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com
SCA Women’s cricket tournament bowls off -Canadian-based Guyanese Deo Samaroo welcomes teams… By Ravendra Madholall
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ORONTO, CANADA: The inaugural Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Women’s T20 cricket tournament bowled off on Sunday at the Ashtonbee ground with two matches. President of the Association and Canadian-based Guyanese Deo Samaroo was on hand to welcome the four participating teams while Member of Parliament Rathika Sitsabaiesan of ScarboroughRouge River also attended. Superstars defeated Kaisoca Women Cricket Club A team while the SCA Junior Under-13 side got the better of Kaisoca B team in the first round fixtures. The action will continue on Sunday at the same venue with two more matches while two other teams have expressed their interest to participate . Samaroo, in his opening remarks, thanked his fellow executives of the SCA for this initiative to have a tournament for women’s cricket and
The 2015 SCA Women’s T20 cricket tournament bowls off with Nancy Lowes delivering the first ball
is very optimistic it will be successful upon completion of the season in early September. “I [am] very thrilled to see the involvement of women’s cricket in our Association for the very first time; I must commend the ladies to take up the
challenges and play the game in good spirit. Great job by my executives to see the action gets cracking and I am very hopeful it will continue to be very successful,” Samaroo declared. Sitsabaiesan extended con-
gratulations to the SCA for having women’s cricket tournaments and feels this version of the game is undoubtedly exciting and entertaining. Nancy Lowes, who is the Manager for Parks and Golf Courses in Scarborough
District, stated that she was not too familiar with cricket but learned few things about basic bowling and is heartened to be given the opportunity to bowl off the commencement of the competition. Main sponsor of the competition Krishna Sarju of Caribbean Restaurant also in Scarborough took the opportunity to say that he was thrilled to come on board and when approached by the SCA, there was no hesitation and expressed happiness to display his generosity. Other executive members were presented and promised to continue with the great degree of commitment including Vice-President Bisham Singh, Secretary Eon Gunraj, Treasurer Vish Jadunauth and Assistant Ground Coordinator Francis Mathew. Other special invitees including Archie Mohan of Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club and Kim Sue of the Ontario Softball Cricket League echoed similar sentiments to the SCA on bringing out the ladies to the ground.
Sir Andy, Gayle praise Pietersen C
A S T R I E S , ST LUCIA: Legendary West Indian fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts believes the St Lucia Zouks stand to gain from Kevin Pietersen’s England omission as he prepares to play in the Caribbean Premier League while superstar batsman Chris Gayle says the embattled middle order batsman should be representing England in all forms of the game. Pietersen had been hoping for an international recall after last being selected for England during the 2013-14 Ashes Tour in Australia. However, his prospects of a come-back on the English team suffered a setback when new director of cricket Andrew Strauss told him he would not play for England again this summer. “Once Kevin Pietersen comes to St Lucia Zouks and prepares to play his part, I don’t think he’ll have a problem with anybody,” said Roberts. “He didn’t have any problems with any of us last year when he came for two matches. I found he helped and he looked to help some of the youngsters. They had a few conversations with him and some have seen wisdom in what he’s said.” Pietersen will represent the Zouks for the second time after turn-
Chris Gayle... added his voice to debate on the controversial English batsman Kevin Pietersen
ing out for St Lucia in the latter stages of the Caribbean’s Twenty20 competition last year. Gayle has added his voice to debate on the controversial English batsman who was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board after last year’s whitewash Ashes defeat in Australia. The record-breaking batsman was hoping for a recall to the England side after apparent preseason encouragement from new ECB chairman Colin Graves. But even after his maiden triple-century for Surrey on Monday, he was informed within hours by England director of cricket Andrew Strauss that there is no imminent prospect of him playing for England again. “He should be playing for England, there are no
two ways about it,” said Gayle. “They (the ECB) must have their reasons but we would love to see your best player in action, out in the middle, entertaining. It doesn’t matter what format – Test, 50over, Twenty20 – he’s a class player”. Strauss was Pietersen’s Test captain in 2012, when he discovered the batsman had sent “provocative” texts about him to opposition players from their native South Africa. Strauss has confirmed that Pietersen is “not part of our plans” for the Ashes summer citing a “massive trust issue” between himself and the 34-year-old cricketer. “One of the best players England has ever produced. But it’s your loss. KP is looking forward to the CPL. England don’t
want him? We will take him,” said Gayle who took his tally in three NatWest T20 Blast innings to 328 as Somerset
defeated Hampshire by eight wickets last Friday. “He (Pietersen) will entertain the fans. We will make some sales off
him, sell some tickets. It should be fantastic. The CPL is going to be one big party.” (CMC)