JEDDAH: Here’s good news for cricket lovers. The Jeddah Cricket Association, which was recently launched, held its inaugural meeting at Jeddah’s Salt & Pepper restaurant and should be ready to organize tournaments after the problem of playing venue has finally been solved.
During the meeting Aijaz Khan said the purpose and aim of starting a new cricket organization in Jeddah is to promote the game of cricket in a healthy and competitive atmosphere and to run the organization transparently, selflessly and on democratic principles. He told the audience that after months of strenuous efforts by various persons “we were able to successfully locate new land around north of Jeddah thanks to special efforts of Humayun Farooq and Dr. Faiz Al Abideen.”
Khan said, after surveying the land and confirming its suitability, he has prepared the drawings and work has begun to make eight pitches on it and hopefully in 4-5 weeks the grounds will be ready for play.
Sponsors are being invited to have a look at the grounds and extensive media campaign will soon be launched to promote the image of JCA in the eyes of the cricket-loving people.
After the initial welcome speech it was proposed and unanimously seconded to appoint Dr. Faiz Al Abideen as chairman of JCA, Mohammed Iqbal as president, Khan as vice-president, Majeedul Hasan as general secretary and Akhtar Hussain as treasurer.
All the four positions are ad-hoc for the period till the first elections are held within 90 days. The other members who attended the meeting were: Aizaz Toor, Azizullah Sharif, Tauqeer Shah, Haroon Abdulla, A. A. Merchant, Majed Siddiqui and Arif Hashmi. Zafar Ali Khan, Afsar Faheem, Saeedul Hasan and Ahsan Rafae failed to make it due to prior engagement.
In accepting the JCA chairmanship Al Abideen thanked Allah and invoked His blessing to guide him to the right path. He thanked the members for reposing faith in him and assured them that he will leave no stone unturned to make JCA the most successful organization not only in Jeddah but also in the Kingdom in the next five years.
He assured that work on the ground would be completed within the given time and that the facilities which will be provided in due time will be one of the best to ensure that players’ needs are fully met with. Dr. Faiz concluded by saying that all in all it will be an efficient, elegant and eloquent cricket organization in the Kingdom with the support of all the committee members and like minded people.
Mohammed Iqbal thanked Dr. Faiz for accepting the chairmanship of JCA and the others for appointing him as the president of the ad-hoc committee. He assured all members that he will do his utmost to ensure that all objectives of the association are met and that cricketers who have sacrificed a lot would enjoy playing cricket in a competitive and friendly atmosphere. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by the general secretary.
