MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET, Inc.
Major League Cricket, Inc. is a Cricket Development and Sports Promotion company that is located in Somerset, NJ and says it "was formed for the purpose of developing, promoting, and staging the exciting game of cricket throughout the United States".
The long-range strategy for Major League Cricket, Inc, has been spelled out as nothing less than the establishment of a professional cricket league in the USA, at least on the lines of Major League Soccer, and ultimately (perhaps) the National Basketball Association or Major League Baseball.
A professional cricket league in the USA? This has indeed been a dream of many organizations over the past decade. All kinds of formats have been suggested-- "exhibition" leagues involving A teams from major cricket-playing countries; "hybrid" teams which blend selected "imports" with local talent; even a "geriatric" league composed of players who have recently retired from first-class cricket in their home countries but whose names might draw some cricket-starved US immigrants through the turnstiles. None of the models have gone much beyond the talking stage, yet the dream endures--even if only as a gleam in the eyes of would-be cricket moguls and middlemen. MLC's approach, however, is different-- it is more comprehensive, and seems to have attracted some serious attention-- at least for the present.
Even the most enthusiastic supporters of a "major league" concept, however, concede that an NBA-type cricket Major League is a decade or two away. Instead, it seems that MLC is embarking on a four-stage strategy: FIRST, to work with the current 30-odd cricket leagues in the USA to achieve some consistency of product; SECOND, to develop cricket at the Under-13 to Under-19 levels from the ground up, working with schools and state/local authorities, much as soccer did twenty years ago; THIRD, work towards a US national inter-league championship format, starting in 2002 and developing into a full-fledged structure by 2006 or 2007; FOURTH, to superimpose a "professional cricket league" which can then draw on indigeneous recruits from the youth and the inter-league organizations and develop a truly US professional cricket cadre.
One major roadblock on the way to implementing MLC's grand design is that most US cricket leagues-- a cornerstone of MLC strategies in the medium-to-long run-- are currently members of the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), which is hardly likely to surrender control of US cricket to the MLC--especially since the International Cricket Conference (ICC), the world's supreme authority on cricket, has recognized the USACA as the "representative organization" for cricket in the United States. And yet, there is no formal relationship or agreement between the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) and Major League Cricket Inc. MLC presented its 10-year Strategic Business Development Plan to the board of directors and executive committee of the USACA on 02-17-01. As of this writing, there has been no formal response from the USACA. Where this leaves the situation is unclear--perhaps the next year or two will see a struggle for control of the US cricket turf-- i.e. the loyalties of the thirty-odd US cricket leagues-- between USACA and MLC, with all the bitterness, shady deals and polemic that such a struggle might entail.
The principal officers of Major League Cricket Inc, are:
Bernard John Cameron:, President, Founder & CEO
Mr. Cameron is presently a Vice President of Information Technology at Bear Stearns & Co Inc, and is also in charge of technology for the Government Bonds Trading department at Bear Stearns. As a former opening pace bowler for both division 1 and 2 Riversdale and Spartans in Trinidad respectively, Mr. Cameron coached the All Brunswick Cricket Club of New Jersey for the 2001 season.
Clive Lloyd, Chief Operating Officer - Representative To The ICC
Mr. Lloyd is the Former Captain of the West Indies Cricket Team, and presently is the Chairman of the NorthWest Lottery commission in the UK. He is also a Former member of the ICC Panel of Referees. Additionally, he is a Co-Opted member of the Lancashire County Cricket Committee.
Michael Nelson, Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs & Chief Counsel
Mr. Nelson is a top Independent Legal Consultant in the Middlesex County Superior Court system in New Jersey. A former Professor of Law at Rutgers State University in New Jersey, Mr. Nelson is a product of Guyana and played Cricket for teams in the Somerset and Middlesex counties of New Jersey.
Monica Weekes, Vice President Marketing and Advertising
Mrs. Weekes is the former Managing Director of Advertising at the New York Times. At present Mrs. Weekes is an Independent Consultant working with some of the major advertising companies in the New York Metropolitan area.
S.N. Sundararajan, Vice President, Finance
Mr. Sundararajan is an Associate Director of Structured Transactions department at Bear Stearns & Co Inc.and brings to Major League Cricket Inc. his many years of experience in financial analysis and management.
Dereck Noel, Vice President Public Relations
Mr. Noel was mainly responsible for the staging and corporate sponsorship for the New York West Indian Day Parade, or the Labor Day Parade (as it is now more popularly known) with an estimated 3.5 Million tourists and visitors participating.
Angela Knight, Vice President Human Resources
Miss Knight is a Director of Human Resources at the Merck Pharmaceutical company.
MLC says that its immediate goals are to develop the standard of play throughout all leagues in the US, implement the United States Cricket Development Program (USCDP) (see below), stage the InterState Cricket Cup in 2002, and implement a National Organizational Management approach to the structuring of all leagues throughout the country.
According to MLC, its United States Cricket Development Program (USCDP) is to be used to educate young Americans on the game of Cricket. This is to be done by meeting with state and local heads of government within the education departments to allow clinics, seminars, coaching demonstrations and the like, to be presented at various designated schools throughout the United States. Exhibition games are also to be staged with the inclusion of students, so as to "give them a live hands-on experience of game-play creating a positive fun-filled sporting environment".
Major League Cricket Inc. has already met with the Secretary of State of New Jersey, where plans at the State and Local level of government were discussed.Also, the USA Cricket Academy headed by Ashok Patel, and Major League Cricket, both based in New Jersey, have formed a strategic partnership for the purpose of developing and promoting professional cricket throughout the US, beginning with the young grassroots of the sport (see U-13 Tournament in New Jersey). As MLC moves forward to implement USCDP goals in most schools throughout New Jersey, this may be used as a model for other states.
MLC says that the USCDP is geared not only to the educational institution but also to the general public. Cricket, at present, is played in many states throughout the US to the extent of organized teams and leagues. It is the goal of the USCDP to work with both local and state representatives of these organizations so as to develop the standard of play through the use of coaching clinics, coaching and game videos, exhibition games, and multimedia lectures on gamesmanship and Cricketing education. "The consistent encouragement of local league play", says MLC, "will assist in promoting and developing the game of Cricket in the local communities throughout the US". That, at any rate, is the hope-- and the promise.
Further information on Major League Cricket Inc. can be obtained at its Web site, at www.mlcus.com .
(The following 2003 review of Major League Cricket was written by Shiuli Sharma.)
2003: A SECOND INNINGS-- The Desmond Haynes Tri-state Cricket Cup
For years Cricket in the U.S. has been a victim of in fighting, politics and mud slinging, where personal gains have often taken precedence, than the welfare of the game. And those of you have followed the histrionics of the so-called governing body will no longer have to hold your breath to see how the drama unfolds. For all that is now history.
This gentleman's game has finally found it's place under the Sun, here in the U.S., due to one man's vision and his inherent love for the game. Major League Cricket (MLC), the brainchild of Bernard J. Cameron isn't just a new kid on the block, but the kid who is all set to turn around the state of cricket in the US of A. For all you cricket lovers it is a breath of fresh air. The winds of change are finally gusting.
This story isn't about MLC, but the success of cricket. Based in Somerset, NJ, MLC is all geared to bring cricket into main street America. No longer will it be a weekend game played by a bunch of ex-pats in a city park, but one that is followed by Americans on Monday night!
Albeit its fledgling status, MLC has big plans for the future, starting with its interstate cricket championship - the Desmond Haynes Tri-state Cricket Cup. Championing the cause of cricket, this tournament not only seeks to encourage competitive excellence, but also popularize the sport at a grassroots level.
Named after the legendary Desmond Haynes, who for all reasons needs no introduction, the state teams of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will face off each other in the Tri-state Cricket Cup challenge. But what makes this tournament truly unique is that it the under 15 teams from each of these states too will play one another. In the subsequent years, the competition will include the under-13, 19 and 21, as well.
When asked about lending his name, Mr. Haynes remarked, "If I can be instrumental in harnessing young talent for the future of cricket in America, I would be only too pleased. Cricket has been my passion and I'd like to share that with all".
In its goal to further cricket at the grassroots level, MLC is assisted by the U.S. Cricket Development Program (USCDP), a not for profit organization. This is the first of the many projects the two intend to conduct together in the future.
There are many firsts to the Desmond Haynes Tri-state Cricket Cup. Namely, it is the first interstate cricket championship to be played in the U.S. It is the first triangular knockout series of its kind, which has a handsome purse attached to it. It is the first tournament where there'll be matches for both seniors as well as juniors. And last but not the least, training camps conducted by no else but the legend himself - Desmond Haynes, for all players participating.
The first ball of the tournament will be bowled after August 30, 2003 and will be played across the tri-state area. The first match was played at Marine Park, Brooklyn NY on September 9, between New York and and Connecticut ( See CT defeats NY in Tri-State Cup. The under-15 games will all be held at Old Bridge, New Jersey.
Furthering the cause of cricket in the U.S. and assisting MLC in this venture is yet another doyen of the cricketing world, Sir Clive H. Lloyd. When asked about the tournament, Sir Clive said, "I'm pleased to see cricket grow in this part of the world. The Desmond Haynes Tri-state Cricket Cup is a bold step in fulfilling that goal. What I find satisfying is that the game now has a platform to grow on."
Once again that isn't all. Inside sources tell us MLC has been successful in securing sponsors like MetLife, Western Union and Air Jamaica for the event. With developments like these, the Tri-State Cup becomes one of the best-supported cricket events in the U.S. in recent times. After years of waiting, it looks like the patience of all American cricket fans has finally paid off!
In the words of Bernard J. Cameron, CEO and founder of MLC, "cricket is one of the world's most popular sports and its following in the U.S. is growing rapidly. We want to provide both the players and the followers regular opportunities to play and watch the best cricket in this country. The inaugural Desmond Haynes Tri State Cup is a step in that direction."
American cricket's first innings may have been a complete wash out, but things look different the second time round. With a new, energetic and focused team in place, chances are they will score more at the end of the day. But as we all know predictions very often go awry in the game of cricket. As of now things look positive and as cricket lovers let us hope this match worth all the promises. For more information on Major League Cricket visit their website at www.mlcus.com.
