America Poised To Stage First ODI Series….USACA President Dainty

International cricket is closer in reality to being staged in the United States for the first time.

USACA president Gladstone Dainty.So says United States of America Cricket Association president Gladstone Dainty who also stated that Regions are beginning to appreciate the importance of self reliance rather than wholehearted USACA dependence.

Following the association’s annual general meeting held over the weekend in Texas, Dainty said negotiations are at an advanced staged for the series to feature New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

“If you ask me I will be more inclined to say the chances are greater for it to be staged than not,” said the USACA president who pointed out that the association is in a much better position now to benefit financially from the series than it was in earlier negotiations.
He explained that the association secured the services of a Washington law firm whose expertise is making a big difference in the negotiations.

USACA and Cricket New Zealand, the ruling body for the sport in that country, which has a partnership arrangement with the former, are collaborating to stage the ODI series which would be complimented by matches between the United States national team and one from the West Indies territories.

An investor is providing some of the funding and television rights are shopped around for the games, Dainty added.

The series is slated to be staged at the Broward County stadium in Florida after the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies which concludes next month.

Dainty who is serving a third term as USACA president disclosed that New York is leading the way among the country’s regions in running development programs and acquiring the required resources. He was high in praise of the PSAL schools program which is highlighted by a competition that will involve 28 teams this year. The president said efforts are being made by USACA to intensify the coaching of teachers who act as instructors for the various schools.

Dainty is however, disappointed that so far no players from those programs have yet won places in the national Under-15 and Under-19 teams.

On the association’s finances, Dainty disclosed that it is far from satisfactory, adding CEO Don Lockerbie is working on a number projects outside of the Cricket New Zealand arrangement. One includes a deal with the NACL group to stage all Twenty20 games involving the national team in the United States.

Lockerbie, the first full time paid USACA official, has been in office more than year and contrary to the feeling that he is being paid by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Dainty explained that the CEO is being fully remunerated by USACA.

Dainty declined to reveal details of the contract, on whether it is an open type or time restricted as is the norm in the sports business or on the value. One source however stated that it is in the six-figure range and some comment was made about the rewards to USACA, at the meeting on Saturday.

Dainty also ended speculation that USACA is about to hire a team of national coaches full time, stating that the organization is not ready for such an investment presently. But the president stated there is a dire need for USACA to give retainer contracts to at six national team players, given the growing international commitments the country is required to fulfill in competition.

He added that the United States receives around $300,000 from the ICC annually which is based on the country’s world ranking in 50 overs competition. The president pointed out that the country’s recent promotion to Division four, will not impact its ranking immediately, as it is reviewed every two years.

Dainty however pointed that the figure is wholly inadequate which is why among other things, success in competitions is vital, thus the need to play the best players available regardless of age.

He said Canada receives the maximum subvention of around $1.2 million based on its high ranking in Division one, but they still have financial problems although the country gets government assistance along with sponsorship.

Dainty was referring to Canada’s recent decision to withdraw from staging the 2012 Under-19 World Cup.