A Message from Ram Varadarajan, Candidate for USACA President

(To hear Ram deliver this speech, go back to the Home Page of this site)

Hello, it is a pleasure to e-meet with you. Thank you for spending time with me and on this website.

I am Ram Varadarajan, candidate for President of USACA.

There can be little doubt that USACA of today is broken. We are living under the shame of an ICC suspension; our players – adults and kids – are suffering because they cannot participate in international events. Watching the under-19 World Cup in Malaysia was a painful reminder of the consequence

There is, however, cause for optimism. The spirit of cricket and the love of the game in America is alive and well.

I have travelled the length and breadth of the country and have seen the activity at the grass root level – at the club and league level cricket is alive and well. There is tremendous interest and passion not only for recreational adult cricket, but also youth cricket and increasingly women’s cricket.

However, this grass root effort needs to be nourished and supported. That is USACA’s role. That is where USACA of today has been a failure and needs urgent and significant fixing.

My candidature is all about finding a way forward. We must leave the politics of today behind; it has led us to despair and shame. The American spirit is about being the best at whatever one does. Cricket should be no exception. I promise to bring the highest quality of professionalism, inclusion, transparency and innovation to this sport in America.

Let me talk about the team that is joining me in this quest. I will start with myself. I am a cricket lover; I have always been one since my childhood. It is the love of this game that has propelled me to seek this office. I have not held any USACA office before. I have no baggage to carry, no quarter to pander to. I have been a dedicated volunteer for the sport in America. For the past two years, I was chairman of a tournament committee that helped organize and conduct a US National Youth Tournament for Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 kids. These were resounding successes because I was able to galvanize support from many quarters, including USACA, and get national participation. Last year, we even webcast the finals live all over the world; 3000 people watched it. My goal then and my dream now is simple: In eight years I want to enable the US to field an Under-19 team that can win the World Cup. I have demonstrated successful leadership, general management, professionalism and fund raising abilities throughout my career. My biography and indeed that of all of the other team members are on this website.

The rest of the team is also top-shelf. They are cricket enthusiasts first and foremost. Additionally, they have also demonstrated success and professionalism in their careers. They come from diverse backgrounds and geographies – John Aaron is from New York City, John Thickett is from Texas, Shahid Tahir is from Michigan, and Manaf Mohamed is from Florida, and me – I am from California. Such an inclusive executive management team has never before been seen at USACA.

My team and I have set out by putting our promises in writing: a cricket lover’s Bill of Rights. You will see it on this website. All our actions will be governed by these promises. They sound basic, and they are, but these have been absent from USACA for a long time. We need to restore these immediately. The right to transparency in all USACA decisions; the right to professional and innovative governance; the right to full and inclusive participation; the right to full GAAP accounting; the right to active and open communication.

The team and I have also laid out our vision and plans in an Election Manifesto. You will find innovation woven through all of the activities that we propose to do. Let me talk about a few of these: Fund raising. This is of utmost importance. USACA has constantly been broke. A financially strapped USACA can be nothing more than a well-wisher. We intend to reform fund raising at USACA. Of course, we will strive to get the maximum possible support from the ICC, but we should control our own destiny. Significant fund raising from sponsorships is one way. My team and I have significant experience with that. We will also build a platform to promote professional cricket, consistent, of course, with ICC guidelines, so that will become a revenue source as well. A little later, I will point out ways that we can get these funds back to the leagues and clubs.USACA will need enormous support in the months to come. So, we need to create numerous posts, maybe as much as 50 posts, to serve specific needs from planning tournaments, community relations, media relations, fund raising, university liaison and so on.

Let me use this opportunity to invite those of you that are motivated by our campaign and want to join this movement to change and upgrade USACA, to join us – you will find my e-mail address on this website – so please volunteer. We need you during the campaign and afterward as part of the administration. We welcome you on board. In the coming weeks, we will continue to communicate our vision in in-person meetings, telephone meetings, e-mails and through the website. Communication is a cornerstone for good governance. American cricket lovers need to make informed decisions. This openness and willingness to share and take feedback is unprecedented in USACA history.

It is very sad commentary when I have personally travelled and visited with more league presidents than all of the current USACA management combined. Under our tenure, the USACA website will become a vibrant window into all of cricket in America. Communication in USACA today is noticeable only by its absence.I also want to make a promise to the club and league presidents. USACA is not here to interfere in your matters. USACA’s role is to help foster and promote better cricket within and between clubs and leagues. Today, USACA is irrelevant to the leagues. I understand clearly that the USACA President is a servant of the leagues and not its boss. I will serve at the pleasure of the league presidents.

Once the funding is in, I intend to disperse that to all the leagues – to reward good governance and promote youth and women’s cricket. Infrastructure development and inter-league play is critical. For instance, if a league builds turf wickets, we could support them with a significant grant. If they play a match with a league in another region, they could earn another grant. If the league adopts 20 schools for youth and women’s cricket, they can get a bonus. And so on. Little things are also important. The new USACA will enable every club to get electronic scoring so that we can have true score cards that track players throughout the country.

Of course, some key appointments are important: national coaches, selectors, etc. We also need to attract and hire a top class CEO.Let me also say a word about youth and women’s programs. Women’s programs need grass roots level building. That’s for sure. It is natural that we start youth programs within the schools and youth academies. But we need to go beyond that. Cricket needs to be a recognized sport within school districts. Cricket is the only sport that does not have an active patronage with the Universities. There is almost no scholarship for Cricket in America. You can go to Cornell on a Lacrosse scholarship – but not cricket. We need to build the entire chain from schools to universities. We also need to start an “Inter-University Cup” tournament as an annual event. I know a stadium that would love to host such an event.

Of course, I am talking about the Broward County, Florida cricket ground. A visit to that stadium is therapeutic. It embodies the hope that cricket has a future in America – with the right support of a national organization. If I were the USACA president, I would be holding the upcoming General Assembly for this election at that stadium. I plan to do my best to help the County utilize the stadium, and make it a commercial success so that we can build many more stadiums across the USA.

I want to create and share best-practices, provide supporting documentation to help clubs and leagues secure grounds and stadiums across the country. In closing, let me remind all of us of the criticality of the choice that you have to make. We are at a precipice; but I see a path to the Promised Land – my team and I can lead us there. A wrong turn will, of course, lead us to abyss. The incumbent team and several other ex-USACA leaders have had their innings to show their skill and dedication. The poor results are here for all of us to see.

The time for change is upon us. I call upon all of you to work with your league presidents and vote for our new team — a new inning — a team that is representative of all of American cricket, a team that has demonstrated professionalism and innovation, a team that is capable of raising cricket to the next level, a team that is willing to put its promises and plans in writing, and above all, a team that is motivated to work for you and the love of cricket. Together we can bring glory to American cricket and preserve for our children and all American youngsters the joys and life skills that cricket built in all of us. The last several weeks have been very encouraging.

Our message of a new inning is resonating well across the country. We are delighted and humbled by the outpouring of support. We will continue our work hard to earn your trust and support through the election and beyond. That’s a promise you can bank on.

Thank you again for your time and interest.

By John L. Aaron

The following article in-part first appeared in the media January 2008.

The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) is the national cricket organization of the United States and the only participating link with the international cricketing community, through the ICC. Suffice it to say that nothing gets stamped USA without the express written consent of USACA and/or the ICC. Therein lies the need for a more dynamic focus at the domestic level, and through a national organization that properly represents the interests of its members, at the ICC level.

It has been more than a year since USACA was suspended from international competition and funding by the ICC, for the second time within the past three years; a clear indication that something is broken - communication, proper governance, true accountability, transparency, credibility, you name it. Some may even argue all of the above.

Following the suspension last year, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: “It is especially disappointing that the USA players have had to be penalized in this way for matters that are largely beyond their control.”

A national organization must represent the interests of the majority of its members, more so, when that representation is linked to an international organization that has the last say on the participation of the national organization’s members in the international arena.

The current USACA administration has failed to demonstrate an ability to represent itself in the international forum, by its own failure to represent the interests of its members domestically, and in so doing lost the majority support of its membership, mainly through its lack of transparency and true governance.

Cricket in the United States has hit rock bottom, with the ICC’s suspension of playing rights and finance to USACA. As a result, the morale of the players is matched only by the general malaise of the clubs, leagues and regions they represent. The lethargic nature of those who seek to be represented by USACA is a direct result of the organization’s failure to articulate its vision, while its governance is shrouded in mystery and secrecy.

Since a national organization must first and foremost represent the interests of those it governs, it is important that it does so in an open and transparent manner. USACA has failed in this regard. On the contrary, it has demonstrated a blatant disregard for true governance and has failed to address some core issues raised by many of its stakeholders. Though these charges are not new, it is necessary to note them, because, if we fail to acknowledge our past, we are doomed to repeat it.

It has been said that stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Cricket in the USA has been managed the same way for some time now, with no innovative approaches attempted by the USACA administration. The current situation has existed for far too long. The time to effect change is now.

At the behest of the ICC and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), along with the nudging of the League President’s Reconciliation Commission, an effort was made to correct the wrongs that stood in the way of USACA being readmitted to the international cricket community. Out of that intervention was born a document embraced by a margin of affirmative votes that was less than that rendered at the beginning of 2007, when an attempt was made to ratify a constitution without due process and schedule.

I do not believe it was a reflection on the content of the document so much, as it was a reflection of the general frustration and lethargy of those exercising, or refusing to exercise their franchise. Nonetheless, the current document was ratified under the guidance and astute leadership of an Independent Third Party - Chris Dehring, representing the WICB and by extension the ICC.

Such intervention should not have been necessary, were it not for the stubbornness of the current USACA administration and the public outcry in some quarters. An outcry though not reflective of proper protocol, begged the question - “Was USACA being governed properly?” The ICC answered that question with another suspension and the withholding of funding, until the WICB recommends that such actions be reversed. “The suspension will stand until such time as the West Indies Cricket Board recommends and the Executive Board (ICC) agrees it should be lifted,” noted an ICC statement at the time.

Now that a constitutional document has been ratified, members must look to it as the beginning of new hope. However, such new hope cannot emerge from the bosoms of the incumbents, because they have failed to cradle and protect the development process of US cricket, by throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Lost opportunity, lost confidence, lost interest. USACA now, can only survive under the new constitution, with new and dynamic leadership, willing to take USACA in a different, but positive direction. Such new leadership has emerged with the formation of a slate of individuals led by a successful businessman Ram Varadarajan, with no strings attached to previous or current USACA executives. This is exactly what cricket in the US needs at this time – a fresh face, a new look, dynamic energy, and a team that epitomizes true governance.

Though cricket in the United States is generally regarded as a recreational activity, with the majority of clubs getting together on weekends, to participate in a sport that for the most part, is linked to the players’ cultural heritage, it can be made into a viable and more productive pastime.

The survival of cricket in the United States is largely dependent upon the generosity of some community donors who financially “prop up” the sport in an ad hoc manner. Organized cricket is dying for dynamic leadership that would provide platforms for those players within the appropriate age ranges, to excel at the national and international levels. However, such advancement will not take place without the support of the players, clubs, leagues and regions.

This vital support can only be derived from the sale of a vision for cricket in this country, through a development program articulated by USACA, and “sold” to the players, clubs, leagues, regions and potential sponsors. Such a covenant must be based on the reality of the current structure of cricket in the USA, and a program that recognizes those clubs with an express interest in being a part of an energetic national organization.

The Varadarajan group of individuals has already crafted a vision for the further development of cricket in this country, but that vision will need the support of all parties interested in lifting the spirits of USACA and its members to another level. Therefore, I sincerely urge you to throw your support behind the articulate group of individuals, by casting a vote for Change and New Leadership, not tainted by previous administrations and individuals with personal agendas.

Current trends suggest that not too many of the estimated 600 plus clubs in the United States have any genuine interest in what USACA can do for them, and even less, what they can do for USACA.

Simply stated, USACA needs the clubs and their membership alliances, more than the clubs appear to need USACA. How then does one create a mutual trough, from which both parties can benefit? Only through the creation of a new and dynamic direction, can USACA reintroduce member clubs and players to the national organization and the benefits of belonging to USACA. Such a new direction must be based on mutual respect, clear communication, transparent operations, true governance and the development of an organization by the members, and for the members. Those characteristics may be found in the New Team assembled and ready to launch USACA back into orbit.

To say that accurate and timely communication from USACA is practically non-existent under normal circumstances, is putting it mildly.

If USACA’s web site is to be recognized as the watering hole of information in a new-age electronic environment, then it must reflect such a trend. It must become the meeting place for the dissemination of information, exchange of ideas, exposure to a larger community, and in a nutshell be the Village Bulletin Board.

A vibrant web site can be effectively used as the crossroads of the most expeditious forms of communication. The pictionary use of the medium and its statistical portals can be the glue that binds those who surf within its walls, creating an electronic environment for camaraderie and a sense of pride.

Membership in an organization is usually accompanied by some benefits. What benefit does the existing USACA membership derive from belonging to the national organization? If there are any, it’s not properly communicated to the members. The ICC suspended USACA almost one year ago, and to date, the current USACA leadership has not issued one statement; at least seeking to reassure the organization’s membership that everything was being done to have the suspension lifted. To put it bluntly, the arrogance and disdain with which the organization treats its members left much to be desired.

At the time of last year’s suspension, Speed noted that, “The ICC hopes this measure will serve to focus minds within the cricketing circles in the USA, that sense will prevail and that all those with the good of the game at heart will come together and take control of this unfortunate situation.”

That was the precursor to the formation of the League President’s Reconciliation Commission. However, when that group sought to encourage USACA to reconcile any differences within the organization’s membership and leadership ranks, the group was labeled as dissidents and factionalists. And those were the decent condescending terms used in public. Behind closed doors, the words and names used to describe those seeking to change USACA’s behavior cannot be repeated here. Such actions sent a message of fear rather than one seeking to communicate the positive. Further, USACA sought to send such negative messages to the very membership it is purported to serve.

Much of what the current USACA administration does appears to be done behind closed doors, and in a clandestine manner. Alas, such behavior has undermined the confidence of even those who still believe in Santa Claus and USACA.

Why a national organization that claims to represent such a vast and diverse group not communicate its plan of action in an open and transparent manner, is beyond common sense.

With transparency comes confidence, with confidence comes support, and with support comes growth. Three things USACA badly needed to convince the ICC and other affiliates that it was ready to lead from the front. What USACA needs to restore the confidence of the few believers still left, and earn the respect of those who still dare to dream, is a sign that says “Under New Management.” A new management comprising individuals with a passion to do the right thing for the people USACA represents - its members. Those members have been subjected to so many wrongs during the reign of the current administration, that I am sure they would welcome a new and dynamic leadership with fresh ideas, zeal, commitment, passion and a willingness to be honest with itself and its members.

A new USACA administration should reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the organization’s membership, as well as the vast geographical nature of the various regions of the organization. It appears that the foregoing characteristics may be found in the team led by Ram Varadarajan – a team that reflects the diverse ethnic, cultural, and geographical nature of cricketers and this vast country.

The new constitution calls for a hired CEO, for whom funding must be realized to keep him/her employed. However, beyond the role of the CEO, the organization needs an energetic individual as its president, with demonstrated leadership abilities, excellent interpersonal skills, communications savvy, business acumen, and self-honest enough to be willing to surround himself with equally smart, honest and committed people. That individual can be found in Ram Varadarajan, a true hands-on manager.

It is no secret that in order for cricket to be successful in these United States, funds must be realized to create development opportunities at the grassroots level. USACA therefore must be perceived as a business with a mission, clear vision, and plan to effectively realize such ambitious development goals.

The next likely president of USACA Ram Varadarajan brings a different approach to the cricketing community. His resume encompasses the business acumen that drives corporate America, as well as an understanding of the technology that helps to drive the economy. USACA must rise to the level of competency necessary to win friends, influence people, and encourage investors, while rebuilding a membership base that has given up long before reaching the finish line.

The ideal candidate for the leadership role of USACA can be found in Ram Varadarajan. He has a proven business track record as CEO of Arcot, Inc., that is clearly defined in today’s terms. He is an individual who willingly continues to traverse this vast country, meeting and listening to the needs of the members within the various regions. He is an individual who is humble and smart enough to understand that he will serve at the will of the members, and willing enough to admit any mistakes he is likely to make, while promising to make a concerted effort to correct them.

This is the end of the road for the existing administration. Now is the time for all of the incumbents to step aside, including those who albeit are still faithful to the game and the members, for they too have unfortunately been tainted. The USACA desperately needs to hang out a new shingle that says “Under New Dynamic Management,” if it is to encourage greater participation of its members in the development of the sport here in the USA, and to be once again recognized in the international cricket community.

There is no greater opportunity than now, for all of the cricket stakeholders, including those who unfortunately find themselves on the wrong side of the track, to declare it a new day, a day full of new opportunities, optimism, passion and a brighter future for cricket in these United States of America, and under a new and dynamic management team led by Ram Varadarajan. Support the dynamic group of individuals led by Ram Varadarajan.

Vote for Real Change! Vote for a New Beginning! Vote for a New Inning of Hope! Vote for a New and Dynamic USACA!