JEDDAH, 18 June 2004 — Cricket enthusiasts Kingdomwide hope that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its Asian body, Asian Cricket Council (ACC), will soon clear the confusion existing between the two Saudi organizations about recognition.
The two organizations are Saudi Cricket Center (SCC) and Central Cricket Control Board (CCCB), both of whom claim they have received a license from the General Presidency of Youth Welfare. CCCB board consists of Zainal Alireza and Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled A. Almaeena, aside from Shahid Amin, its president, chief executive and founder.
Jeddah Cricket League (JCL), Eastern Province Cricket Association (EPCA), Yanbu Cricket League (YCL) and Madinah Cricket Association (MCA) are among the organizations that are part of the CCCB. The JCL claim that it has the lease of 15 grounds in the airport complex in Jeddah where cricket is being regularly played. “The CCB has unjustifiably claimed these grounds, they haven’t staged a single cricket tournament and yet they have approached the ICC for recognition,” JCL President Shahid Amin told Arab News.
He also took exception to the May issue of an SCC magazine and termed its contents as “misleading.”
Amin said he was hopeful that both ICC and ACC would seriously review the CCCB’s application and accord them their affiliation. “The CCCB reflect the true strength and image of Saudi cricket teams with its main cricket organizations that include JCL, EPCA, YCL and MCA. “These are the main cricketing organizations in the Kingdom in its 29-year cricket history,” Amin said. JCL at its recent general body representing all 38 clubs unanimously decided not to recognize SCC and not to deal with them in any manner. “SCC neither have clubs or grounds nor have conducted any events to-date, but since its formation in July 2003 has been requesting JCL for using its facilities.
“The May issue of SCC magazine has contents that give the impression that all grounds, clubs and players in the Kingdom belong to it and all local tournaments are conducted by it.”
JCL, EPCA, YCL and MCA are sole authorities in their respective regions organizing all events, Amin said.
The general body of JCL comprising 38 clubs passed several resolutions at its meeting. It reaffirmed non-recognition of SCC and not to deal with it in any manner. It condemned the “malpropaganda” of SCC against JCL and other Central Cricket Control Board (CCCB) members and victimization of committee members.
In a major move, JCL has resolved not to respond to SCC’s requests for JCL grounds for their trials or any other purposes, “as SCC has no ground or a team anywhere in the Kingdom, nor they have conducted any tournament or social match.”
JCL officials said the way SCC has reported facts in its May 2004 magazine, which has been circulated to the ICC and ACC, is “misleading.” SCC, they said, has no infrastructure facilities and yet its magazine claims that all the grounds, facilities, clubs, players and tournaments conducted in different parts of the Kingdom belong to it.
Referring to a published news item in the magazine about a meeting between SCC and JCL representatives, JCL said, “no such meeting ever took place and so it’s a false claim.” The meeting unanimously requested to approach the respective committees in different parts of the Kingdom who are members of CCCB to disseminate the correct information to all members of ICC and ACC, in order to “clarify the ambiguity and make the cricketing world officials aware of SCC designs.”
King Abdul Aziz International Airport Authority representative Mir Saifullah reaffirmed the decision of KAIA Deputy Director General Engineer Sameer Maddah that the complex with 15 grounds has been given to JCL for its sole use. “Any outsider or trespasser shall be dealt with accordingly.”
JCL have 15 grounds in Jeddah, nine of them in one complex is termed the largest anywhere. It has permission to build six more grounds. Existing grounds house the pavilions of leading Saudi businessmen Khaled Kanoo, Juffali, Sadafco, Mahmood Saeed, Hempel Paints, Zuhair Zahran, Nestle Milo, Otis and Attar Travel. Besides JCL has three grounds at Iskan Complex, Ace Compound, Saudia Catering Complex and KAIA Complex.
JCL committee includes Executive Secretary Iqbal Chaudhry, General Secretary (technical) Afsar Fahim, General Secretary (Admin) Syed Majeedul Hasan, Treasurer Akhtar Hussain, Joint Secretaries Aijaz Khan and Naeemullah Khan, Ahsan Rafay (Finance), and members - Syed Muzaffar Hussain, Azizullah Sharif and Saidul Hassan. Abdul Rahman Merchant is auditor.
