After months of silence and less than five weeks before the ICC's final deadline for its implementation, the USA Cricket Association has finally circulated the proposed new constitution to its members for ratification.
The documentation was sent out by Paul de Silva, the secretary of the USACA, with a note asking each region to appoint a regional administration in accordance with the draft constitution by February 21, 2007. "This will help fast track the electoral process," he explained, adding that he "presumed that the draft constitution will be ratified".
To maintain its status as an associate member of the ICC the USACA must hold new elections by March 1, 2007 under a new constitution. This means that from the date of de Silva's email, the regions have 21 days to consult all member clubs, ratify the constitution and appoint a representative, as all ballots must be completed by February 19.
While stakeholders will be delighted to finally have some information after months of silence from the USACA board, the timescales for the process to be finalised are almost ridiculously tight, and questions have to be asked regarding why the board has left it so late and what exactly have they been doing in the meantime.
Few inside the USA expect the new elections and fresh constitution to bring many changes in leadership.
Comments
Posted by: JR at January 31, 2007 1:11 PM
It looks like the "New and Improved" Constitution will permit the Executive Committee to enter into whatever type of contract they desire without the need to consult the Board of Directors. Another power grab for Dainty et al.
Posted by: Texan at January 31, 2007 3:20 PM
Where is the New USACA Constitution? How one can access it. I hope it's posted on the USACA website. Does Cricinfo has access to it? Where are the USACA Regional Directors and CLP members? We need some more info ASAP to discuss the matters in the constitution. I hope all regional directors of USACA Board have some say in it. Please provide us with some more information. Thanks.
Posted by: cricketer at January 31, 2007 6:46 PM
I this the constitution is okay but the way new regions have been set up are just stupid. If you put all things in perspective, just have a look at the way regions are getting separated, its stupid. West coast is the biggest region and before there were two parts to it, north west and south west, now the whole west coast will be one region. Thats just crazy, there are more players in the whole of west coast than in entire USA. The regions we had before were good because it gave good distributing ways for regional directors to pick players. Now West coast which has SCCA, NCCA, BACA, NWCL, BBL will all field one team and mind you there are more than 150 teams all together when you combine these leagues. THAT IS NONSENSE, players will not get opportunity, less players will be selected.
This constitution is biased, look at the way it is distributed in regions, all the east coast regions are very small states with not so many clubs, so it is easier to get selected. And look at the west and central regions, huge states, more leagues, more players and just one team. Thats stupid.
Posted by: Texan at January 31, 2007 8:42 PM
It's on USACA website I just read it. Time line is too short and all in all seven regions have to ratify it by 19th February. It has been mailed on 30th according to website. Regions also have to elect the regional administrators before end of month, I think. Why they delayed till now? What CLP has to say?
Posted by: Atlantic at February 1, 2007 4:11 AM
Interesting thing is, lets stretch our imagination and assume the constitution is indeed ratified on 2/19. Essentially, that leave only 9 days for the new election. Feb is only 28 days this time and elections must be done by March 1, per this article. I wonder how that will be achieved.
Posted by: siva at February 2, 2007 7:30 PM
i saw somewhere that Des Moines Cricket League is a member of USACA...this is wrong. Des Moines cricket league doesn't exists now and Cricket League of Iowa is not a part of any association. It is a standalone entity. Thanks, Siva.
Posted by: Firoz at February 11, 2007 8:41 PM
What is especially amusing to me is that this draft constitution has been floating around for quite some time, and has been extensively discussed in various cricket forums as well. To suddenly put it forward to US cricket leagues as if it was something "brand new", and urge immediate and hurried approval of it to meet ICC's deadline, is a rather disingenuous move on the part of the USACA Executive. Don't play games with us, USACA. The truth will always come back to haunt you.
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