by Lloyd Jodah

I met Ravin Moorthy in 2008. Later, in early 2010 Ravin played a significant role in Toronto’s York University participating in the 2010 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship. 

My goal was to stimulate the development of cricket at the University level in cricket – Ravin immediately understood my vision and encouraged York University, which came, saw, and conquered, winning the Chanderpaul Trophy.

Indicative of his cricket foresight, Ravin joined the American College Cricket Advisory Board, and put the webcasts of the 2010 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship on the Cricket Canada website.

York U Cricket was catapulted onto the pages of Canada’s top newspaper, Globe & Mail, and into the University media. York U stars such as Khushroo Wadia and Raza Rehman have been selected to play for Canada. 

A Canadian Universities tournament was started, and I began more teams at McGill and Queens University. Ravin was particularly pleased when I started the team at McGill, his alma mater. McGill was later was featured on CBC, and Ryerson is now a new strong force. 

It is with pleasure therefore we see Ravin Moorthy was elected as the new President of Cricket Canada ! 

In brief remarks on Monday, Cricket Canada’s new President was grateful for the responsibility given by the board. 

“I would like to thank the Board of Directors for showing their confidence in me to lead Cricket Canada through this important period of growth and development.  Cricket is cross-cultural, generational, and connects millions of Canadians in communities across the country.  Cricket Canada will be calling on all stake holders including Canadian Corporations and the Government of Canada to support the organization through these exciting next steps.” 

Ravin is the first Albertan to assume the post of President and has established a solid reputation for consistent success in both program & portfolio managment and organisational governance.  He has held multiple executive positions within Cricket Canada, Cricket Alberta, and the Calgary & District Cricket League and is a member of the American College Cricket Advisory Board, during a period of 15 years volunteer service to the sport in Canada.

Ravin Moorthy is a graduate of McGill University.                                   

McGill University has played a remarkable role in sports in USA & Canada. First it was pivotal in the development of (American) football in 1874

McGill Cricket ROSTER :                                           

Cricket field on McGill University campus 1907

Last year, guided by American College Cricket President Lloyd Jodah, McGill student Muhammed Tayyab Zafar began a hardball team, and applied for official status at the McGill Athletics Department, which was granted.

Indoor practice was arranged, funding sought and visas applied for (for the Internatonal students).

With new uniforms, the McGill team then travelled to Florida, and played in the 2011 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship for the first time as a team.

Part of the mandate of every American College Cricket club is to raise the profile of the game in mainstream media – this report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp demonstrates that the McGill guys are doing their part:

CLICK HERE for CBC NEWS report:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canada/Montreal/1305551527/ID=2127129674

McGill vs Auburn at the 2011 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship

Many players, and others, say the fielding they’ve seen at the American College Cricket Championships have been among the best they’ve ever seen in any form of cricket anywhere in the world – and I feel the same way. Kristen Ashcom (Auburn) managed to capture a few of those moments in some great photos:

McGill -1907, cricket field on campus

In recent years Tape ball cricket has been the main form of cricket played at McGill. Now inspired by ACC and the opportunity to play in the American College Cricket Spring Break Championship, hard-ball (season ball)has returned to McGill. In regular communication with American College Cricket President Lloyd Jodah, the McGill Cricket Club led by Tayab Zafar was motivated to create a hardball team, and apply for official status at the McGill Athletics Department, which was granted.

Starting this season, the McGill CC took on local cricket clubs and managed to defeat some of the best in Quebec. Just like in other Universities across the USA & Canada the cricket club has successfully managed to bring cricketers, many from different cricket -playing countries,to unite under a single McGill banner.

The Club is a group of dynamic cricket enthusiasts currently attending McGill University in the heart of Montreal, Quebec, who are determined to take McGill Cricket to new heights. The Club has organized tape ball cricket tournaments during Fall. Last year ten teams of eight members each took part in the tournament.

The Club charges a small membership fee annually along with tournament fees and the funds raised have helped the club to take this beautiful game to the local community as well. The outcome has been very successful since more local players have expressed their eagerness to get involved with the club.

The university administration is supportive, no doubt recognizing the tremendous value of a vibrant cricket team as an attraction for potential students, particularly internationally.About 20% of McGill’s over 30,000 students are International students.

McGill University still has a rugby rivalry with Harvard University . The 2 schools featured in 2 “football” games with an “oblong” ball in 1874 under “McGill” rules to truly begin “American Football” .

McGill University’s biggest sports rival however is Queens University going back to 1884 so there will be some fireworks when these 2 cricket teams take the field at the 2010 Regional Championship and the 2011 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship !