Canadian cricket in the doldrums

The ongoing infighting inside Canadian cricket rumbles on with news the Ontario Cricket Association has suspended six players - Cecil Pervez, Durrand Sorraine, Junaid Siddiqui, Rustam Bhatti, Zameer Zahir and Khusroo Wadia

“The above players have been suspended for failing to respond to a show-cause notice sent to them by the OCA requestiong an explanation for their conduct in the recently held National Championships in Ontario,” a statement from the OCA said. “The suspension of the above players makes them ineligible to represent Ontario. The above players having failed to respond to the show-cause notice, will however have the opportunity to appeal their suspensions.”

The OCA ran into trouble with the Canadian board (CC) when its nominated team for the national interprovincial tournament was not accepted because of a dispute between factions within the OCA. CC picked a representative side instead.

The OCA in turn is refusing to recognise the CC board. “We don’t recognise the committee,” OCA chief Mike Kendall said. “They have no jurisdiction to put Ontario cricket through an inquiry and have us respond to their charges. You can’t just slap together a few allegations and on that basis come in and take over our jurisdiction, which is what has happened with the selection of the Ontario team.”