Congratulations to the players, coaches, selectors managers and all volunteers who have given years to junior cricket across Canada. Further success must surely follow such dedication!
Preliminary phone confirmation indicates that Canada on Saturday August 11, 2001 defeated Bermuda at Somerset C.C. in Bermuda for their second successive Americas U-19 triumph in the preliminary regional tournament for qualification to the U-19's World Cup. Full scorecards will follow. Canada defeated the Combined Affiliates Friday by 10 wickets. Aneel Nauth one of our best players and opening batsman Gibran Rahaman (24 not out, including 5 fours in one over) led the way with 52 runs in 4.1 overs.
Canada batting first scored 184 in 50 overs. Captain Ashish Bagai, fresh from the ICC Trophy WC 2003 qualifying team top-scored with 50, Gibran Rahaman (20) and Jonathan Roberts (24) were among the top scorers. Johnathan Roberts, our backup wicketkeeperbatsman, also captured 10 wickets in the tournament, including a match winning 7 for 20! This despite Canada not bowling in 2 rain-affected games.
Bermuda after a rain delay and Duckworth Lewis adjustment was asked to make 179 runs off 46 overs. Bermuda were all out for 144 in 45 overs. Nathan Richards, another outstanding player, led Canada's bowling with 5 wickets , supported by Chris Argunen's 3 wickets and by Johnathan Robert's continued efficient accomplishments in a utility role as our closer.
This triumph is even more remarkable when Canada were forced by an ICC rule change to replace five players from the original squad. Those five players of course were extremely disappointed. Even more discouraging for these five players was the forced withdrawal of a second and top quality Canada U-19 team from the West Indies U-19 tournament due only to financial reasons!
At least two of these players are viable candidates for senior team selection with advanced coaching and training, for example at FM cricket academies in the next year.
Loss of critically required Sahara Cup funding and extra and unexpected costs in staging the ICC Trophy 2001 can be a devastating legacy for the future development of Canadian cricket. The ICC Trophy 2001 was held without a sponsor for Canadian Cricket. Things must change in short order for Canada to realize its true potential and achieve ODI and later full member status. Can Canada properly prepare for and send players to the U-19 and FM World Cups without major sponsorship? You know the answer, don't you?
Canada needs you. Cricket needs you. Join Canada's WC teams. Together we succeed.