- John Thickett, Candidate for Treasurer

John Thickett is in a two-way race against incumbent Selwyn Caesar for the post of Treasurer in the forthcoming USACA elections.

John Thickett is a successful entrepreneur who has held leadership positions in several manufacturing and service industries. He currently serves as the CFO and Chief Marketing Officer of Austin based Tusker Group.

As a cricketer, John Thickett has been active in Austin and has been a key contributor in Central Texas Cricket League (CTCL) as well as the Central West region.

DreamCricket.com spoke to him about his plans for USACA if he gets elected. Here is what he had to say -

DreamCricket: John, thanks for talking to us. We are very close to the election. How do you rate your team’s chances to win this election?

John Thickett: Very good. We are in an extremely strong position to win this election. I think the voters realize a team of people is needed to start to address several of the issues facing US cricket and create momentum. Our team spent time getting to know each other and we already know we can work well together. We bring many different skill-sets and experiences to US cricket and each one of them is important. When I talk to the League Presidents I am urging them to vote for our whole team in order to have a complete team.

DreamCricket: Why are you part of a Ram Varadarajan slate? You could have run on your own as with some of the candidates in this election. Instead, you have tied your electoral fortunes to a number of other folks.

John Thickett: This was very deliberate – we are a TEAM – we each bring different skills and experiences – we discuss and argue points and come up with solutions. It is critical that voters understand this – we work together well and the results will be much better if you have a balanced team running USACA. Teams get results – not individuals. If voters pick and choose candidates then they risk electing a number of individuals who will not be able to work together – that will be a disaster.

DreamCricket: What level of cricket did you play in UK? Do you still find time for active cricket?

John Thickett: I played as a youngster with Salts Cricket Club, part of the Bradford league in Yorkshire, England, at grammar school and at the intra-mural level at university in the UK. I still play in one of my club’s recreational teams and enjoy it greatly – my goal is to try and play at some basic level until I am 60.

As I get older I prefer the shorter Twenty20 format. I feel my real value add for cricket is in administration rather than on the field and I am sure many of my team mates would agree with that analysis!

DreamCricket: How did you end up in USA? Please tell me more about your involvement in USA cricket.

John Thickett: I first visited the US in 1986 when I graduated from engineering school in the UK. I came to the US in 1988 to study for my MBA and apart from two years consulting in Europe in the early 1990s I have been here ever since. I started with my club the Hill Country Cricket Association in the late 1990s. After incorporation I worked with a team of members to get a ground and net facility developed in conjunction with a local county and was involved in raising around $25K to build the ground. The club has grown now to around 60 members now.

We started a new league in Central Texas around four years ago and I have been a Director of the league since its inception. Just recently the league obtained its own ground from a local county who also funded the development of the land. We play matches in cities and towns such as Killeen, Seguin, San Antonio, Round Rock and Austin.

For the past few years I have represented the Central Texas cricket league on the Central West region and was elected Treasurer a few weeks back.

DreamCricket: Why did you decide to run for Treasurer?

John Thickett: Many people were criticizing USACA last year but I never heard someone stand up and say I can do a better job. I believe you have to put your money where your mouth is so I started to talk with other folks, including those on the New Inning team about building a team for change. In my career I have been involved in raising both equity and debt capital, managing businesses and negotiating complex contracts and transactions – all good experiences for a Treasurer to have.

DreamCricket: You are a Harvard MBA. You might be the first Harvard MBA to focus your energies on cricket.

John Thickett: I don’t know – I doubt that – I am sure there are several other Harvard Business School MBAs around the world involved with cricket management.

DreamCricket: You are a CFO and Chief Marketing Officer of Tusker Group - that is a unique combination because it shows that you are focused both on business development and on the financial side. How do you see that experience helping your role as Treasurer?

John Thickett: In my business our contracts with clients can be complex and require both a business development and finance skill-set to assess and manage risk. For USACA to grow we will need to enter into complex multi-year agreements to get money flowing into US cricket. I believe I have some very relevant skills and experiences for those discussions and negotiations.

DreamCricket: How important is good and prompt record keeping for fundraising?

John Thickett: It is extremely important to keep books such that taxes and other statutory filings are made promptly, to allow donors to receive tax receipts for their donations, and to demonstrate that we are a well-oiled machine. Accountability is a crucial part of fund-raising. To me, that means financial accountability, fund-raising accountability and organizational accountability.

DreamCricket: What role can the Treasurer play in furthering the cause of transparency and efficient governance? There is a perception that USACA administration was somewhat lacking in this area.

John Thickett: Running an efficient financial operation and communicating the financial status and health regularly to the membership in an open and honest way is what my job is all about. There is no short cut, we want to be best of breed and being open and honest is the only way to build trust. As a professional team, we will follow best-practices and we will rely on our wealth of corporate experience. We can also look to the experience of other organizations, such as in dealings with the ICC.

DreamCricket: We know of several leagues that have dropped out of the USACA system or never joined USACA because they feel that their own constituents do not perceive USACA to be transparent or fair.

John Thickett: I think by working openly and transparently over time trust and confidence will be built again. We can bring about these much needed changes that will result in a vast improvement in how USACA is perceived domestically, but also the way USACA is perceived globally.

Regarding the disenfranchised leagues, I want to add that one of Ram’s and in fact the New Inning team’s goal is to reach out to all the disenfranchised leagues. We will invite each and everyone who plays cricket in USA, youth, women, collegiate cricketers, seniors, all American cricketers, and find ways to involve them in USACA so that we can work together for the benefit of cricket. Outreach is an integral part of sport and thus a key part of our team’s vision.

DreamCricket: Have you have reviewed the public records, e.g. tax records, of USACA? What are your thoughts on that?

John Thickett: Yes – someone sent me the links last weekend. It is sad when other nations are developing that USACA is broke.

DreamCricket: If you look at the 2005 tax filing, the picture looks bleak - income was $67K versus expenses of $224K. That put the net loss at $157K. On the balance sheet - cash went to $1K and payables grew to $162K. The organization had a negative net worth at end of 2005. Without knowing whether the situation improved in 2006 and 2007, it does appear that USACA is broke! How do you see this picture changing? What does it take to revive the organization? And how can Ram Varadarajan and his slate help?

John Thickett: If the New Inning team is elected we will strive to quickly remove the ICC suspension, get cash flow started again and target raising $1 Million to develop cricket. We have a number of potential sponsors already identified. We are also committed to getting the money out to the leagues and regions on a matching basis so that they can make the local investment decisions.

DreamCricket: So the leagues and regions will potentially receive matching money from USACA if your team gets elected?

John Thickett: Yes. We must invest in leagues and regions if cricket must grow. USACA, the regions, the leagues, and the clubs - we are all partners and we must work together. If a league wants to build a ground, we will not only help them financially, but we will also support the league so that it can go out and raise their own money. And we will also provide the league with support as it negotiates with local government. Our plan is more than just giving handouts. We plan to create a comprehensive partnership with the league, one that is performance based and goal oriented.

DreamCricket: In the past, there have been some contracts and projects that were talked about. In most cases, these contracts have involved companies wanting to host international cricket in USA and gaining access to USA audience. USA has been viewed as a consumer market for international cricket.

ICC must certainly want a lion’s share for allowing international players to play in USA. How would you make sure USACA’s interests are protected?

John Thickett: My view is that we should negotiate in good faith with all involved parties for the best possible arrangement for USACA and its members. If we make USACA relevant and respected domestically and overseas, we will also be able to negotiate from a stronger position than we can now.

DreamCricket: Can we talk about your rival in this election? What is your assessment of Selwyn Caesar (the incumbent)? Was he very responsive in your dealings with him when you were at CTCL?

John Thickett: I have a great deal of respect for Selwyn Caesar, just as I do for all the men and women in the US who contribute freely of their time and know-how to support cricket. Selwyn has worked over the years for USACA and is to be sincerely thanked for his efforts.

I believe that the time is right for a new person to take over the Treasurer role. The voters will make that decision. Certainly if Selwyn wins I will wish him well for another term, and I am sure that if I win he will work to transition over to me all the financial records and files I will need to take over the role.

DreamCricket: Thanks again John. And good luck with your election.

John Thickett: Thank you for this opportunity.

- John Aaron, Candidate for Secretary

John Aaron has been described by former West Indies Cricket Board President Ken Gordon, as “a true statesman.” More recently, ICC’s Chief Executive Malcolm Speed described his views on direction of USACA as “very impressive.” He is the recipient of several academic and civic awards including the prestigious New York University’s Prism Award for outstanding alumni.
Mr. Aaron is not only highly regarded as a cricket administrator, but is known to many of DreamCricket’s readers as a passionate writer.

DreamCricket interviewed John Aaron, who is the candidate for Secretary in the USACA elections to be held on March 29, 2008.

DreamCricket: John, firstly, and perhaps in the interest of full disclosure, I must thank you for writing your columns for DreamCricket on issues pertaining to USA cricket. And I want to take this opportunity to go on record - I want our readers to know that you have written your columns for DreamCricket.com without any monetary expectation. That is just an illustration of how deeply you care about USA cricket.

Although, we know who the best candidates are in the election, your candidacy for Secretary is one DreamCricket would have no hesitation in openly endorsing - having known you for the last two years, I cannot think of a better qualified person for the job.

We think it is USA cricket’s good fortune that you have offered to translate your thoughts and words into actions through your candidacy for USACA Secretary.

John Aaron: I am flattered by your very kind sentiments. In life I believe we are all gifted with special talents. How we use those talents defines who we are and the content of our character. I enjoy writing about cricketers and cricket, because I often attempt to look beyond the player’s accomplishments. Through my columns, I hope I have helped communicate the need to increase interest in the sport, here in the US.

DreamCricket: Tell me a little bit about your involvement in cricket. When did you start playing cricket? What brought you to America? Why are you so passionate about this sport?

John Aaron: I played cricket up to the Secondary School level, before switching to club soccer. However, my late father Reggie Aaron was heavily involved in cricket as a first-class club player, writer and a national radio cricket commentator. I suppose I always had the cricket genes in my DNA, but never fully realized them, until I migrated to the USA to continue my university studies.

In fact, it was my brother Keith Aaron, who captained Guyana’s youth XI, who got me interested in cricket at the club level in the US, where I have been president of Atlantis Cricket Club – NY for the past nine years and now in my second year as president of the Eastern American Cricket Association.

My passion for the sport stems largely from seeing the angst on the faces of so many youngsters who were uprooted from their cricket-playing environments by parents whose only wish is to provide a better life for their children in the USA.

What drives me more than anything else is watching our youngsters don the red, white and blue of the USA. Hopefully they, along with a stable USACA will serve as the catalyst for the American-born cricketers to also excel at the sport.

DreamCricket: Your New York club, Atlantis, has an amazingly rich history. Its roster has included eminent folks like former Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Lester Bird and former West Indies Test captain Clive Lloyd. It also has some of cricket’s greatest among its honorary members, including Clive Lloyd, Andy Roberts, Alvin Kallicharran, Lance Gibbs, Roger Harper, Curtly Ambrose, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Lawrence Rowe and recently Joel Garner. How involved are these gents with Atlantis?

John Aaron: The super cat Clive Lloyd never misses an Atlantis match when he’s in New York, while some of the other gentlemen are very supportive of the club, in different ways. Over the years, we have treasured the relationships developed by honoring those very deserving players.

My hope is that because of the geographic proximity of the Caribbean to the US, USACA can encourage players such as those honored by Atlantis, to help in the development of the sport in the US through innovative youth clinics.

DreamCricket: I have known you as an activist cricketer - someone that wants to do more than just play on weekends. Your career graph in USA cricket is inspiring. You were Secretary of Atlantis, and then became its President. Then you were elected President of the Eastern American Cricket Association in the New York Cricket Region. Then you became Regional Director of New York this year. You have already given so much of your time to USA cricket. Can you tell our readers why you want to run for Secretary of USACA?

John Aaron: It is a question many of my friends and immediate family often ask me, having heard so many disparaging things about USACA, litigations, suspensions and disenfranchisement.

Ironically, it is a question that even I have asked myself. The resounding answer is always embedded in my sincere belief, that I can make a difference. My late father taught me that if you want to change something, it is always better to do it from the inside, rather than from the outside.

DreamCricket: You just got elected the Regional Director for New York. Would you be resigning from that position if you were elected the Secretary of USACA?

John Aaron: I wish I could say no. Not because I want to hold on to so many cricket leadership positions, but because I love the energy that is generated by cricket in New York. However, I would have to resign my position as Regional Director, and it makes perfect sense, because of the demands of both offices.

If elected Secretary of USACA, I am confident that New York has so many talented individuals that our Regional Administration will remain intact, very strong, competent and competitive.

DreamCricket: Your resume includes Chairman of USACA League President’s Reconciliation Commission. What role did you play in the Commission? Why was this commission formed?

John Aaron: My role was a relatively easy one, because I had some very competent and passionate individuals onboard with me, such members as Leighton Greenidge from Southern Connecticut, John Boaden from Dallas, Mark Sood from Southern California and Rajesh Padhi from San Francisco.

The commission was formed following the second suspension of USACA by the ICC last year, for essentially poor governance, and out of a concern that if we did not get our house back in order quickly, we would lose the opportunity for our senior team to participate in Darwin, Australia and our Under-19 team in Canada, during 2007. The commission members felt that USACA could sit with the representative group of league presidents and find solutions to the growing impasse in cricket in the US, and before the then WICB president Ken Gordon intervened.

Unfortunately, USACA’s president Gladstone Dainty refused to engage in the sincere effort to find solutions, prior to the intervention of the WICB, after WC 2007 in the West Indies.

DreamCricket: One of the main reasons for ICC’s second suspension of USACA was that it failed to meet the agreed and subsequently extended deadlines for the adoption of its constitution and the holding of elections.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed commented then that, “The ICC recognizes that the USA has vast potential as a cricketing nation. But without a functioning administration that potential is likely to remain largely untapped.” Some have said that USACA was not to blame and ICC was on a witch-hunt.

You have spent a lot of time working with ICC/WICB appointed Independent Third Party Chris Dehring and USACA.

Can you share your thoughts from your vantage point? Obviously it was a tricky position - you had to progress the situation so that the constitution and governance could be improved. At the same time, there was a chance that USACA would see you as someone that was working against their own interests. Was it a thankless job?

John Aaron: I would not characterize it as a thankless job, because the culmination in many ways is the upcoming elections.

Was it stressful and frustrating? Yes, more so for those of us who felt we were fighting an honorable battle to reclaim cricket’s dignity in the US, while we sat across from an administration with what appeared to be a somewhat different agenda.

The ICC had no reason to be on a witch-hunt, if the US is perceived as a viable market for spreading the game.

Ironically, your question suggests that I may have been seen as working against the interests of USACA. President Dainty and some in his administration may have seen it that way, but at the end of the day, all I wanted was for cricket to emerge on top. Hopefully, I have been able to make some small contribution to that process, so far.

DreamCricket: How about the Constitution Review Committee that you were a member of? There are still some people out there that think that the newly ratified constitution is not very different from the one that was initially proposed back in 2006. But you have been very eloquent in your argument that what is needed is incremental change, and a foundation for future improvements. Do you believe that the constitution is now a dynamic one, which can be amended if the constituents want change?

John Aaron: There are several differences between the current constitution and the one initially drafted in 2006. Any constitution or other set of guidelines, rules and/or regulations tends to evolve over time. Even the constitution of the United States has had its share of amendments, when it was necessary.

I don’t believe time here would allow us to go into detail regarding the evolution of the current document, however, we now have a document with which we can work to help us forge ahead. As time will tell, the members of USACA will determine whether amendments need to be made to the constitution.

DreamCricket: How confident are you that ICC will lift its suspension after this election?

John Aaron: The ICC terms of reference for lifting the suspension require a recommendation from the WICB. Hopefully, at the conclusion of the upcoming elections, the current president of the WICB Dr. Julian Hunte, upon the recommendation of Independent Third Party Mr. Chris Dehring, will be comfortable enough to strongly recommend the ICC lift the suspension.

Lifting the suspension is only one part of the readmission of USACA into the international cricket arena. The other significant part is getting on the ICC’s cricket calendar for the next three years leading up to the 2011 Cricket World Cup. A very significant feature that affects USACA, and that is entirely in the hands of the members of the ICC.

DreamCricket: As a Secretary, what value do you bring to the New Inning team? Why is change necessary in this specific area?

John Aaron: I believe the entire administration of USACA needs to be changed. The Secretarial position is a crucial part of a new USACA, because the office of Secretary is pivotal in developing relationships both inside and outside of the United States. More importantly, we must seek to create a membership environment, where clubs and leagues will want to belong to USACA.

I believe I have the skill-sets necessary to create such an environment, whereby every cricket club in the US would be proud to be a member of the national organization.

DreamCricket: It certainly appears that some thought went into forming the New Inning team. A CFO is running for Treasurer, a writer with experience as Chairman of the Reconciliation Commission and Constitutional Review Committee is running for Secretary, and a Silicon Valley entrepreneur with a record of fundraising is running for President. The two VPs include one who is also an entrepreneur and the other is an administrator. And apparently by design, each is from a different region. Was this planned?

John Aaron: Interesting, isn’t it? But our team is in no way complete. Certainly, we have assembled a team that is inclusive. However, only five elected board members cannot manage USACA. We would serve primarily as the gatekeepers, the oversight governance group or the front office of the organization, so to speak. The success of USACA and the grass root development of cricket in the US will depend largely on a group beyond the five elected members of the USACA board.

The New Inning team has already started to compile a list of people with specific skill-sets to create a broad base management support group. We are looking to fill many roles in the blueprint, which we continue to develop for cricket in the US.

DreamCricket: Do you agree that transparency and openness are two areas where USACA has been lacking? How would your team be different? What are your priorities as Secretary of USACA?

John Aaron: A lack of transparency and openness are only two of the ills affecting USACA and cricket in this country. The New Inning team is in an advantageous position, because we have had a chance to see what does not work, and to focus on designing best-practices that we are sure will create an environment of trust and confidence – two of the pillars for developing any dynamic national organization.

As Secretary, my immediate role would be opening the lines of communication and helping the administration communicate its mission and vision for cricket in the US, as well as supporting the marketing efforts of the organization.

DreamCricket: Any comments on the other contestants for the post of Secretary? Paul DaSilva is the incumbent and he is running again. Sankar Renganathan is the other candidate. He is from a league in the Central East Region that is well known for being innovative. How do you see your chances of winning against such tough competition?

John Aaron: I feel my chances of being elected Secretary are very good, because the voters have had a chance to read how I can help USACA grow, so already my positions are transparent and widely communicated to the cricketing community.

Competition is always good, but in this case I am not sure how strong my competition is, because I have not heard from them or seen them articulate any of their positions on specific areas of the office. Having said that, I feel that all candidates, whether elected or not, have a role to play in the development of cricket in this country, going forward.

DreamCricket: So do you think your team will win? Why is it so important for the entire team to win as one?

John Aaron: I am fairly confident that if each of the thirty-five voting league presidents took the time to review and compare the New Inning’s “Bill of Rights” and Election Manifesto, with whatever platforms the incumbents and independents are running or not running on, would quickly see that ours is a well thought out blueprint aimed and inclusion and innovation.

To have the entire New Inning team seated on the board of USACA would be a tremendous advantage to cricket in this country, simply because we have met on several occasions, discussed, debated, drafted and formulated a plan of action for USACA and cricket in the US, so that very little time would be spent pondering what to do and getting acquainted with each other’s positions after March 29, 2008.

We owe it to cricket in the US to elect an established slate with the energy and chemistry, and ready to go from day one, after the election.

DreamCricket: Thanks John. Hope you will continue writing for DreamCricket after the election.

John Aaron: Time permitting I would love to continue writing for DreamCricket. I sincerely hope that DreamCricket remains a partner in our mission of helping develop cricket in the US.

“We must produce results for our membership.”

- Manaf Mohamed, Candidate for 2nd Vice President

Manaf Mohamed’s resume as a cricket administrator is phenomenal. He is well known in Florida cricket circles as an efficient organizer. He has founded a club and a league and has been involved at the regional and national levels in various capacities. Manaf is part of Ram Varadarajan’s team in this election and is running for 2nd VP. DreamCricket interviewed him to hear his plans for USA cricket and his views on the elections.

DreamCricket:Manaf, firstly, I must thank you on behalf of all of USA cricket for your dedicated service to the game in this country. As an administrator, you are so highly regarded, something that speaks volumes about your devotion to the game.

Manaf Mohamed: Thanks, Venu. I appreciate this opportunity.

DreamCricket: Tell me a little bit about your involvement in cricket. I guess this is a dumb question, but did you play a lot of cricket in your youth in Guyana? What brought you to America? Did you start playing as soon as you arrived on the East Coast?

Manaf Mohamed: I played the game up to my early teens. I wasn’t a good player but my friends were, so I continued going to the games even though it was just to be with my buddies. I soon found out that scoring, compiling the stats, taking out the drinks, packing and lugging the gear bag were all just as enjoyable as playing. I moved to America in 1973 for the same reasons as the many millions who came before and after. Better opportunities for education, career, and family development. I lived in New York for 15 years, but after moving to Florida in 1988, transportation, weather, and free time made it much easier to go to the parks and watch the game.

DreamCricket: You founded your club, Everest Cricket Club, which has its home ground at Brian Piccolo Park in 1989. You were part of the South Florida Cricket Association for a better part of the decade. Then you helped set up the Florida South East Cricket League in 1998. Can you walk us through why another league was set up?

Manaf Mohamed: The simple answer is that there were some extremely talented players in SFCA who were being denied the opportunity, for various reasons, to even participate in trial matches for selection on the SFCA League team. The League had a core group of players who were selected time and time again regardless of how they performed during the season. So I convinced a group of clubs to go our own way. The intention was that at least, these players would get some sort of national exposure and compete on an equal basis. It was left to me to do the paper work and organizing necessary to make FSCL a reality. I must say that even though we are competitors in the same market, FSCL and SFCA have very excellent relationships at all levels. On the field we go at each other for bragging rights, but off the field we work in a spirit of cooperation that has benefited both leagues. I sometimes wish our national cricket leaders can do the same.

DreamCricket: You were also among the catalysts for the formation of the United States Cricket Federation. What was the USCF? How did that come about? I hear that Kamran Khan was part of USCF too. Why was the USCF merged with USACA?

Manaf Mohamed: The Federation was created to fight the same fight that is being fought today. A group of concerned cricket administrators from across the country got together at Haverford College in Pennsylvania to discuss and perhaps, to lament over the state of cricket in the US at that time, which was, sad to say pretty much as it is today. No accountability, no transparency, lack of communication, no funding, no short-term goals, no long-term plans.It was agreed to form the Federation as an alternative to USACA and to go about seeking ICC recognition. Kamran Khan was appointed President, Michael Miller from California was the VP, Andy Coad (my apologies on the last name) from Staten Island was the Secretary, and I was the Treasurer.We did meet with Sir Clyde Walcott, who was heading the ICC at that time. If I can remember correctly, he did meet with both USACA and the Federation. However, it soon became apparent to me that the ICC was not interested in de-certifying USACA and recognizing the Federation. To me the message was: You guys need to work things out and put your house in order. The ICC meeting resulted in a series of meetings between the Federation and USACA and an agreement leading to a “merger,” so to speak.

DreamCricket: Tell us about some of your highlights/accomplishments as an administrator - at Everest, SFCA, FSCL and USCF.

Manaf Mohamed: As I look back, except for SFCA, I founded or co-founded the other three organizations.At SFCA, I am proud of the fact that as Treasurer, I never missed a financial report to the membership, never had a deficit, and at the GMs I was always present to answer all questions and concerns relative to the organization’s finances.Even though the USCF was short-lived, I believe it served its purpose in that it woke up cricket administrators around the country and got the ICC looking more closely at the way cricket was being administered in the USA.But I am most proud of FSCL. I single-handedly started FSCL with six clubs, today the membership is 16. FSCL have won the South East Regional Championships twice and have been runners-up twice, in the last four years. FSCL has a very dynamic Youth Development Program, it has organized and conducted numerous seminars and workshops for municipal employees and county leaders. Along with the SFCA, we have co-sponsored, the annual Lauderhill Night Cricket Tournament.I assisted the City of Miramar for almost two years on their new Regional Park. Today there are two lighted multi-purpose fields with regulation size cricket grounds.FSCL is the best kept secret in the country. We produce results for our membership, as we must do.

DreamCricket: Why are you running for USACA Second VP position? I mean you just got elected Secretary of USA South East Region. Do you think you can bring more value to your region as a member of the USACA Executive?

Manaf Mohamed: Interestingly enough, I had no intention of running for VP. I was appointed South East Regional Secretary and was so frustrated with the national administration I felt that at least I can assist in making the SE Region the best in the country.Then I met Ram and the rest of the New Inning team and soon realized that regional progress can only be achieved if national attitudes towards governance changes. So I accepted the invitation to join the team.

DreamCricket: What are your thoughts about Ram Varadarajan? Why did you join his slate?

Manaf Mohamed: Here was this successful businessman willing to take on the challenges of turning USACA around. His success and approach to marketing and fund-raising was a definite plus. But most of all I agree with his publicly stated belief in term limits.

DreamCricket: Do you think that this team has the experience and the ability that is needed to steer USACA forward? People have said he is not experienced in USA cricket matters even though he has done a wonderful job as the Chairman of the Tournament Committee for the Junior Nationals. How do you respond to these concerns?

Manaf Mohamed: Ram has put together a balanced team. Our team has over 40 years of experience in USA grassroots cricket - John Aaron, John Thickett, and I have been involved with grassroots cricket for a long time.Ram has only been involved in cricket administration for three years now, but it is widely acknowledged that he has brought a fresh and professional approach to cricket management in areas such as sponsorships, broadcasting, etc. Also, USACA needs a leader who is inclusive and responsive, not someone who polarizes others. Ram has those qualities and some of those qualities are already evident in how he formed the New Inning team, and how he communicated the team’s manifesto and conducted its campaign.There is a myth that to be a good cricket administrator one has to have played the game at a high level. If that was the case, then all cricket bodies the world over would be run today by international cricketers. USACA at this point in time does not need a successful cricketer. It needs a successful corporate leader.

DreamCricket: We certainly would agree with that. But what differentiates the New Inning approach from Dainty’s approach? The current team of incumbents is in the race.

Manaf Mohamed: I don’t know if you can call the incumbents a team. A team suggests equal billing and honest discussion of opinions.Ask yourself this question. Why should anyone belong to an organization from which they receive no tangible benefits and their opinions and views are constantly brushed aside only to be ultimately ignored? The easy answer has always been – For The Love of The Game. But for how long can one be quiet when the elephant is in the room, run for the penalty box at legal power plays, play second fiddle to deep pockets or watch silently as friends of friends are anointed despite proven incompetence.The New Inning team will make absolutely certain this status quo changes by implementing a completely different management technique. Our team pledges to solicit input from several experts on how best to develop the sport, collect input from the leagues about their needs and development ideas, communicate with all stakeholders involved in US Cricket, and provide incentives for tangible, measurable progress.

DreamCricket: I am sure that all of USA cricket appreciates what you just said. Coming to non-election matters, after retirement, you went back to school and obtained credentials in Early Childhood and Child Development. Do you think cricket can be brought in fully at the school level? Is it something that would be perceived as valuable to child development?

Manaf Mohamed: Any sport or game that allows a child to use and enhance their motor skills, while at the same time encouraging participation in a group activity will definitely aid in that child’s development. Every one knows that for cricket to gain any appreciable share of the American public’s attention it has to be brought into the schools. Every league in every region has some level of planning or implementation to do just this. Kudos to them all, but what’s missing is coordination from the national body.If elected, I would like to see the New Inning Team develop and make available to all, a primer on how to approach school administrators and present a case for introducing cricket to their schools.

DreamCricket: What is on the top of your agenda for USACA? What would you want to prioritize and where do you see your own experience as being valuable? Because the role of VP is not very well defined. And in the past, some of the VP’s were fairly inactive.

Manaf Mohamed: That’s true. There is no job description for the VPs. So it’s up to each VP to get involved, and frankly, the sheer magnitude of the job ahead requires that the President gets his VPs occupied and on the job immediately.There will be an awful lot of committee work to be done with regards to Youth Development, Women’s Cricket, Schools, Funding, Marketing, Umpires, Coaching, Competitions, International Relations, etc. etc. In no particular order, the list is endless.Now, this is where it becomes imperative to elect the entire New Inning team. If the President and the VPs are not on the same page, there is no way he can lead effectively. And knowing the track record of the current President, valuable time will be lost in one egotistical confrontation after the other.

DreamCricket: Thanks Manaf. And good luck with the election.

Manaf Mohamed: This election is perhaps one of the most definitive periods in American cricket history.A basic fundamental of a democratic community is the right of those belonging to that community to participate and be included in the decision-making process.In a very simple way, this is exactly what is so bothersome about the current managers of USACA. Their callous disregard for opposing viewpoints and their take-it, or leave-it attitude undoubtedly contributed to the disenchantment of cricketers and stakeholders nationally. Couple that with visible displays of insularity, it is no wonder USACA is looked upon with disdain at the international level.That’s why I urge all cricketers and stakeholders to participate in making this change become a reality by sharing your opinions and viewpoints with your Club, League and Regional Leaders.I also urge the League Presidents to listen to and include the wishes and desires of your constituency when deliberating on how to cast your vote. The New Inning team is the sum total of all of the parts of the team. We ask that you vote for the entire team. The synergy of a shared vision will allow us to hit the ground running after the elections.Thank you for offering me this opportunity to express my views. © 2008 Dreamcricket.com - Reproduced through the kind courtesy of DreamCricket.com © 2008 Dreamcricket.com - Reproduced through the kind courtesy of DreamCricket.com