By Sham Ali
Cricket has once again basked in all its glory as a game that has layered itself throughout its rich history as one of glorious uncertainties.
The victorious Brooklyn Cricket League poses with their hardware. Photos courtesy of Mark Audian.
It took center stage at the most welcomed home to all immigrants in the greatest city of the world when the Honorable Mayor of New York Mr. Michael Bloomberg opened the doors to the ballroom of Gracie Mansion and welcomed the ‘Who’s Who’ in the new York region cricket fraternity to the 2010 awards ceremony for the Mayors Cup competition.
It was an affair unique to the cricket community and after the formal photographic opportunity, the mayor in his addressed to the cricketers recognized the passion for the game shown the cricket community. In addition, he attempted to enlighten the audience of his knowledge of the cricket and how it was explained to him some time ago to the tune of ‘when the in is out, the out goes in etc., that explanation left our Honorable Mayor somewhat perplexed as he wondered why so many are passionate about the sport. He reiterated that the city in conjunction with the parks department and commissioner Julius Spiegel will continue in their efforts of assisting and promoting the game in New York City making reference to the first designated cricket field built at Spring Creek in Brooklyn, he then proceeded to present the championship trophies for the 2010 Mayors Cup.
Gregory Anthony and Mark Audain.
The Brooklyn cricket league walked away with the champions’ trophy in which the United States youth player Andre Kirton and Gregory Anthony took top honors while Commonwealth Cricket League received the runners-up trophy. It was a most fitting venue for the awards ceremony of the competition in its fourth season. A competition whose roots were pioneered and planted by the lone soldier and a champion for cricket in the NYR, Hall of Famer, Mr. Roy Sweeney, whose health prevented him from being present at the ceremony, however, his wide vision for brighter days for the cricket now bore the fruits of his labor.
There were many notable cricket personalities present at the function USACA CEO Mr. Don Lockerbie who is intent on seeing the game grow at a rapid pace in the near future, USACA Cricket Chairman Mr. Krish Persaud, USA Cricket Umpires Association founder Mr. Lloyd Scott, MCL President Mr. Mascelles Bailey, The commentators L. Achaibar and C. Bennett, NY Masters Vice President Mr. Austin Hutchinson, EACA President Mr. Rudy Persaud, and NYCPSAL Commissioner Mr. Bassett Thompson. The NYR Director Mr. Selwyn Caesar expressed his thanks to all the various representatives from around the region for their support in making the competition a success.
Andre Kirton seen here with his MVP award and a drink of Hennessey.
When the NYC Police commissioner Mr. Ray Kelly made his appearance at the function, it reaffirms the genuineness of the elected officials and their willingness to recognize cricket on an all important platform and the NYPD sponsored 20/20 tournament demonstrates such commitment. The presence of such a prominent contingent of elected officials and leaders in the cricket community is encouraging, and is undoubtedly a good ‘precursor’ for the game in New York. The Mayors’ cup can now serve as the bedrock upon which cricket in the region is again given another lifeline and can once again spring into gear after years of trials and errors of various competitions in the region. It is left to leaders of the New York Cricket Region to find some veneer of togetherness whereby they can pool their collective heads and flex some much unused muscle for the betterment of the game. But for now cricket has checked another box, in a long inning, on a road to recognition in the US of A.
