April 15, 2013 – The American Cricket Federation (ACF) today expressed its disappointment at the potential loss of the Central Broward Regional Park (CBRP) cricket stadium as the premier venue for international cricket matches in the USA, based on reports surrounding a letter sent to the ICC by the Mayor of Lauderhill, Richard J. Kaplan.
The cricket stadium at Central Broward Regional Park in Florida.
Portions of the letter addressed to the ICC’s CEO David Richardson, were published on ESPNCricinfo over the weekend, where Mayor J. Kaplan was quoted as saying “Our pleas to USACA (United States of America Cricket Association) to sanction additional games in the USA have fallen on deaf ears. Affiliate, Associate, and even Full body members of your organization (ICC) have asked for our assistance in order to hold matches here knowing the major hurdle is and continues to be USACA’s sanctioning, therefore opportunity after opportunity has been lost. Cricket, with all of its potential, continuously has disappointed this community and as such may not be able to continue.”
The ACF is committed to the development of cricket on turf pitches in the United States and stands firmly behind Broward County’s bold initiative of building the only ICC approved ODI facility in the USA, and urges the City of Lauderhill, Florida to reconsider the reconfiguration of the stadium away from cricket.
In a passionate appeal to the ICC’s CEO, Mayor Kaplan pleaded, “We implore you to assist us with either considering some other means of holding international games without being held hostage by one uninterested and incapable governing body (USACA), or guarantee us some long term plan whereby we can establish a calendar of international events that would help us sustain the facility as it is now.”
ACF Advisory Committee member John Aaron believes that the management issues highlighted by the Mayor, “Is just a manifestation of an inept administration, which in turn is a result of lack of democratic processes and transparency in decision making.” He added, “USACA’s leadership is not driven by ideas that unite and goals that bring cricketers together. Instead of propagating a progressive vision, they have promoted divisiveness. Instead of the entire cricket community working together for the advancement of cricket, we have an environment where two-thirds of the leagues are disqualified from USACA and have no role in its decisions.”
In his most devastating and direct criticism of the United States of America Cricket Association, Mayor Kaplan stated, “(USACA) is still suffering from management issues” and that its “long sordid history of suspensions and poor governance has plagued a territory with the greatest potential.”
ACF believes that there are enough cricketers and fans in the US to make cricket in this country self-sufficient. USA is a country of tremendous opportunities and innovation. If all cricketers were aligned with a single purpose and a common vision, the Lauderhill stadium, which is the only ICC certified stadium in this country, might have been a hugely successful venture.
Avinash Varma, an ACF Steering Committee member stated, “ACF is sympathetic to Broward County’s situation with respect to the lack of returns on the investment made in building the stadium. However, it is important that any investment in cricket in the USA be focused on nurturing the sport at the grassroots level, which will enable the sport to become popular among the youth of this country, without whom cricket cannot flourish.
Cricket grounds and adequate cricket facilities are badly needed to support such development, and we cannot afford to lose one, more so a flagship one as the CBRP. ACF is willing to play a constructive role and is supportive of any efforts to bring more cricket to Broward County and the CBRP.”
ACF further urges the ICC to respond positively to the Mayor Kaplan’s request to intervene and propose a calendar of international fixtures at the facility, in an attempt to maintain the CBRP as a premier cricket facility in the USA.”
Like the Mayor of the City of Lauderhill, ACF is disappointed in the lack of more international cricket being played at the stadium and any attempts to discourage matches being played there by any one individual or organization.
Mayor Richard Kaplan Letter ICC:
MAYOR
Richard J. Kaplan, Esq.
VICE MAYOR
Ken Thurston
COMMISSIONERS
M. Margaret Bates
Hayward J. Benson, Jr., Ed.D.
Howard Berger
April 9th, 2013
Mr. David Richardson
ICC ChiefExecutive Street 69,
Dubai Sports City
Emirates Road
Dubai, UAE
Dear Mr . Richardson:
On behalf of the City of Lauderhill, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you the challenges that we have met trying to advance the sport of Cricket in the U.S.A.
Your role as the Chief Executive of one of the largest sports organizations in the world surely is not an easy task and the information we are about to share will certainly make it a little more challenging. As we are all aware, the United States is one of your largest untapped markets and we have been working feverishly over the years to grow the game of Cricket in the U.S.A.
It is our hope that the information we are sharing will help both the ICC and USACA, with support from the WICB, come up with a strategic plan and solution that will permit the sport to grow in the USA and enhance the reach of the region.
My resume as Mayor of the City of Lauderhill, Florida, USA also known as “The Cricket Capital of the United States” includes many initiatives to advance cricket in the U.S. Having a 70 million dollar park including the only ICC certified cricket stadium in North America and USA is perhaps the most notable.
Unfortunately, after several years of under utilization by our sanctioning cricket body USACA, the City of Lauderhill and Broward County have had to look at other alternative uses for the stadium that will sell tickets to fill seats. As a result,Broward County is about to release an independent business plan which will advise government officials that it is time to consider a reconfiguration o f the stadium to a sport that can better sustain the facility and provide an economic return.
It is no secret that the governing body of the USA, USACA is still suffering from management issues. Its long sordid history o f suspensions and poor governance has plagued a territory with the greatest potential. Current court proceedings are still threatening to dissolve the organization. In South Florida, local business leaders, expert sporting event planners and elected officials like myself have banned together and pleaded with USACA to sanction international and commercial events that want to play at the stadium.
Last year, we were fortunate enough to receive sanctioning of a T20 series between the West Indies and New Zealand. The WICB was very well pleased with our ability to produce a world class international cricket match as well as the condition o f the facility .
Our pleas to USACA to sanction additional games in the USA have fallen on deaf ears. Affiliate, Associate, and even Full body members ofyour organization have asked for our assistance in order to hold matches here knowing the major hurdle is and continues to be USACA’s sanctioning.
There fore,opportunity after opportunity has been lost. Cricket,with all of its potential, continuously has disappointed this community and as such may not be able to continue.
The stadium ifleft as it is today, is likely to be converted to something that would make even the ICC developmental tournaments for other ICC Associates countries in the region impossible. Such action will probably occur sometime in the next few months, so time is of the essence.
This is of course unless something is done to guarantee its use on a regular, long-term basis. We implore you to assist us with either considering some other means of holding international games without being held hostage by one uninterested and incapable governing body, or guarantee us some long term plan whereby we can establish a calendar of international events that would help us sustain the facility as it is now.
I am always available to discuss other options in hopes of keeping this very long journey of bringing cricket to the U.S. alive. So many disappointed people will be affected by the stadiums failure to thrive as a cricket venue and eventual transformation. Cricket in the U.S. will definitely be set back and the financial missed opportunities for so many stakeholders, including the ICC, will be too costly to count.
My number is 954-730-3016 at City Hall (cell: 954-260-9178) or my email is rkaplan@lauderhill-fl.gov and hope you can reach out to me within the next week as this business plan is about to become public.
Regards,
Mayor Richard, J. Kaplan.
CC:
ICC Board of Directors
New Zealand Cricket Board
USACA Cricket Board
West Indies Cricket Board
Cricket Holdings LLC
Broward County – GFLCVB