This month's yet-to-be-scheduled Annual General Meeting of the Swedish Cricket Federation is likely to be the last chance to avoid a potentially damaging split in the organisation of Swedish cricket.
Rival factions will use the democratic process at the AGM in a final attempt to prevent the fragmentation of the SCF into two opposing bodies.
This follows the recent resignations of SCF President, Claus Bertilson, and secretary, Govindarajah Jeganmohan from the SCF executive.
A faction, headed by Guttsta Wicked CC's Jason Beer, has proposed the formation of a fresh governing body for Swedish cricket, Cricket Sweden Association. The CSA claims to be pursuing a reformist agenda aimed at placing greater emphasis on indigenous development. Bertilson and Jeganmohan are reportedly aligned with the CSA group.
However, the reformists are known to favour change through the SCF ballot box following advice from the European Cricket Council. The ECC has advised that it cannot be seen to be 'authorising' the overthrow, perceived or otherwise, of a country's recognised administrative body.
furthermore, a country whithout a clearly recognised governing body cannot receive ECC financial support or take part in ECC sanctioned tournaments.
Without debating the merits of the CSA, conjecture over who is the recognised administrative body caused by the formation of the CSA would clearly be a worst case scenario for Swedish cricket. That statement is not meant to diminish the merits of the CSA's cause, merely a statement on the best process for reform.
Meanwhile, back on the field, Govindarajah Jeganmohan, has summarised the 2000 Swedish season:
"The Swedish season began with more clubs than the previous years and a brand new format. The opening game saw the established taking on the 'new', with title defender Svea C.C meeting Sigtuna C.C on Saturday, 6 May. Sigtuna had re-entered the league after a couple of years rest in order to rebuild. Svea CC won the match by three wickets.
On the very same day Sp nga United C.C - last year winner of the third place in the E.C.C Champion Clubs Tournament in Limavady, Ireland - sealed their first win against the newcomer Botkyrka C.C.
So did Stockholm-Sp nga United - a combined team built with the helping hand stretched from Sp nga Utd C.C. Stockholm C.C were suffering shortage of players. Keith Armstrong led the team to a comfortable 5 wicket victory against Pakistan C.C.
Jinnah C.C has also secured their first win against another new comer Stockholm Akademiska Cricket S llskap (S.A.C.S) - a very interesting team filled with Swedes and a few Australian, English and West Indian ex-pats.
Marc s Brinkz n, Per Holstr m, Johan Koskinen, Fredrik Karlsson, Gustaf Hansson and Per-Anders Jande, all who represented the Swedish National Team in the ECC Indoor Championships in Spain, were there to strengthen the SACS.
After each team had played 6 matches and altogether 39 matches in the first round the points-table looked as below:
WinsLossesTiesForfeitsPtsRR1 Svea CC60001392 Landskrona CC60001355.003 Desi CC60001354.754 Stockholm CC51001235 Sp nga Utd CC3210916 Jinnah CC3300877 Pakistan CC2310678 G teborg CC2400629 Botkyrka CC24006010 Mariestad CC24005411 MalmCC15003712 Sthlm Akademiska C.S06001613 Sigtuna CC0303
Sigtuna was disqualified from the league on the basis of more than one match forfeited.
Quarter-finals 5/8 Svea CC defeated G teborg CC 5/8 Sp nga Utd CC defeated Stockholm CC 6/8 Landskrona CC defeated Pakistan CC 6/8 Desi CC defeated Jinnah CC
Semi-finals 12/8 Svea CC defeated Sp nga Utd CC by 4 wickets 13/8 Landskrona CC defeated Desi CC by 27 runs
Final
Finally on Sunday 27 August, the stage was set in Landskrona for an emotion-filled climax to the Swedish summer.
Svea CC and Landskrona CC were there to decide which one of them would lift the prestigeous Swedish trophy. Nearly three hundred spectators gathered to witness the event. Expectations were mountain high to enjoy the thriller. The sun was shining and it was a wonderful day for cricket. So far the two finalists were unbeaten in the championships. Naeem Aslam and Chand were the umpires and Jaya Reddy, the Swedish national coach, was there to officiate the final.
Landskrona CC won the toss and elected to have a bat.
Muhammed Rauf took the new ball in his hands and it did not take too long to prove his craft with the new ball. On the fourth delivery, he removed Shahid - Landskrona CC's star batsman. On the seventh delivery - after a couple of no balls in the same overhe removed Umer. Both the openers were gone for a duck! End of the very first over the score was only 2 for 2.
Svea CC kept the pressure all the way along on Landkrona's innings. Wickets were fallen quickly and on regular basis. Rauf, Adnan, Faizal and Nadeem never let the batsmen to settle in the crease. At last, Landskrona innings ended on just 105.
For Svea bowlers it took only 22.4 overs. Rauf Muhammed (6-26) was the hero of the hour and spinner Aru Sandanam was out of job for the day!
After having a delicious lunch Svea took on the Landskrona bowlers. It took only 18.3 overs to seal the victory. Qamar Mohammad scored a quick 47 including seven fours. One of the Svea's most elegant batsmen, Paul, was unbeaten on 21 and Sakeel was out on 18. It was not Naveed Hashmi's day, otherwise a tricky left-handed opener who can take on any bowler at any condition.
No one was surprised when Rauf Muhammed was awarded the man of the match prize.
For Landskrona CC it was a day of huge disappointment. For Svea CC it was a day filled with sunshine and joy. The worthy winners earned one more feather on the cap."