'It's extremely important to be impartial'
John Wainwright, the chairman of the USACA Constitution Committee, speaks to Deb K Das
31-Mar-2006
The proposed new USA Cricket Association constitution has attracted a great deal of interest in the USA and abroad, because of its pivotal importance to the future of the USACA and to US cricket. After explaining that his Constitution Committee was not in a position to disclose any details about their deliberations until they submitted their official report, John Wainwright, the chairman of the committee, spoke to Deb K Das
How many members are there in the Constitution Committee, and what are their backgrounds? How many have been previously involved in USACA's organizations and issues?
There are five members; two lawyers, one doctor, a director of programs for a NY college, and myself involved with the building industry all my working life. I believe we have all held senior administrative positions either in cricket or other major sports as well as a true sporting spirit and background.
There are five members; two lawyers, one doctor, a director of programs for a NY college, and myself involved with the building industry all my working life. I believe we have all held senior administrative positions either in cricket or other major sports as well as a true sporting spirit and background.
How many meeting have taken place of the Constitution Committee so far, and how many more are planned?
We have had two conference calls to date; we are also in constant communication by e-mail and telephone, a face-to-face meeting is planed for the near future. As a committee we will continue to communicate in all necessary forms in order to complete our task.
We have had two conference calls to date; we are also in constant communication by e-mail and telephone, a face-to-face meeting is planed for the near future. As a committee we will continue to communicate in all necessary forms in order to complete our task.
It is said that if USACA does not have a new constitution by June 30, there will not be enough time for it to meet ICC's other requirements. Do you think this deadline can be achieved?
At this time we are ahead of that particular deadline, so, I see no reason at this stage as to why we cannot finish in time.
At this time we are ahead of that particular deadline, so, I see no reason at this stage as to why we cannot finish in time.
Judging by comments of US cricketers sent to your Committee on what they would like to see in a new and improved USACA constitution, such as (a) more open-ness in how USACA operates, (b) more democratic and participatory operations, (c) greater participation of "mainstream" kids and adults in US cricket---. are these values shared by the Constitution Committee, or are there other values that your Committee would consider more important for US cricket?
Generally what is written reflects the writer, so I hope these values along with others will be reflected in our finished documents.
Generally what is written reflects the writer, so I hope these values along with others will be reflected in our finished documents.
How much support is your Committee presently getting from (a) the president of USACA, (b) the USACA board, (c) other officials or representatives of USACA interests? Do you consider the support you are getting to be (1) too much, or (2) too little, or (3) about right?
The support we have is why I personally accepted the invitation to be part of the Constitution Review Committee, that is that we are autonomous. It's extremely important to be impartial and that is my experience with the rest of the committee. Certainly we believe that we are looking to the future and what is best for cricket and its development in the USA. Hopefully, the trust and independence Gladstone Dainty as well as all the other USACA officers have placed in us will allow USA cricket to be the beneficiary.
The support we have is why I personally accepted the invitation to be part of the Constitution Review Committee, that is that we are autonomous. It's extremely important to be impartial and that is my experience with the rest of the committee. Certainly we believe that we are looking to the future and what is best for cricket and its development in the USA. Hopefully, the trust and independence Gladstone Dainty as well as all the other USACA officers have placed in us will allow USA cricket to be the beneficiary.
What are the steps ahead for your Committee-- will you be only making a report to the USACA president, or will you submit a completely re-drafted Constitution? What is your guesstimate on when this will occur?
There have been no guidelines set for us, so we will be totally responsible for the documents we produce. If you are working on behalf of any organization there are protocols to follow, Dainty is president of USACA so he will be the first to receive our final documents. It would be remiss of this Committee, as we are a Constitution Review Committee, not to set an example by following the correct protocol.
There have been no guidelines set for us, so we will be totally responsible for the documents we produce. If you are working on behalf of any organization there are protocols to follow, Dainty is president of USACA so he will be the first to receive our final documents. It would be remiss of this Committee, as we are a Constitution Review Committee, not to set an example by following the correct protocol.
Deb K Das is Cricinfo's correspondent in the USA