Volume 1 November 15, 2010 Issue 13

SCCA Elections - Editorial

Kiwi Shines

SCCA Play off Finals

SCCA Season-end Statistics

Club Profile - Ventura Cricket Club

Player Profile – Aijaz Ali

The Performers
 SCCA Elections for 2011-12 Cricket Season Editorial by K.C.S. Rao

It has been announced that SCCA will hold an Annual General Body meeting to elect the
officers of the association for the next two years.

All of you are aware and have experienced that many of those who get elected start off
enthusiastically in the first couple of months of their term and then neglect their fiduciary
duties. The patent answer one receives from failed SCCA Executives is that they do not have time to spare as
they are busy at their work place. This is unacceptable. No one coerced the individual(s) to compete for the
elections. It was purely voluntary. If one cannot find time, besides their normal work, one should not compete
for an executive position. There are various ways one could serve the cricketing community and the game. It is
not necessarily by being on the Executive.

In the past two years we have heard members of SCCA talking about the absentee President. But no one in
power came forward to set the rumors straight. It is understood that the President met with an accident in the
first year and was not able to devote as much time to SCCA duties as he thought, he would. In the beginning of
the second year term, he lost one vice-President. It appears the President also stated in one of the Board
meetings (may be February, 2010) that the change in his career did not leave him with much time to fully
function as President, SCCA. He had, as I understand, apparently tendered his resignation. It was a good
gesture on his part to have come forward and tender his resignation when he cannot fully function as President.
It was then up to the Board and the first Vice-President to act upon the resignation. Unfortunately, we have a
vice-President (only vice-President available) who did not step in and take over the association and run the
operations. Neither did he take over the administration nor did he let the membership know the facts behind the
President’s inability to function fully. Presidency is not just a manual labor. It calls for decision-making skills,
planning and getting work done by others. Apparently this stood in the way of the vice-President taking over
the administration.

I am not batting for the outgoing President (I am sure he does not seek for a second term!) but am just letting
the membership at large to know the facts. SCCA Executive should have done this long time ago through their
web page.

In order not to have history repeat itself (prefer not to get into names and incidents) it is suggested that SCCA
should make every prospective candidate to fill in an application which details out the minimum requirements
for the position such as the availability of time, etc., have the candidate sign it. The candidate will have a
person in good standing with the club and SCCA nominate him and another person in good standing with the
club and SCCA second such nomination. A specimen of the Nomination form is attached.

This may weed out some of the candidates who just take up the position and do not fulfill their obligations
throughout their term. Let’s try this in the ensuing elections.

Additionally, SCCA should stagger their elections to provide continuity. Make the election a fair one and not a
selection! A selection hurts the association and its activities. Let us play the game to enjoy the game and
promote the game in this country. Let us not bring in politics into the game and its administration. Let us at the
outset, ask, in writing, from the candidates who volunteers (or get nominated) about the job he currently holds
and the additional time at his disposal. Also ask at the same time his experience in volunteering services for a
non-profit organization. With this process, we could minimize, if not totally eliminate, catastrophes later on.

Staggered executive election process should be implemented from this year’s election: Election should be held
once in two years. The first year the elections are for (a) President, (b) one Vice-President and (c) Treasurer.
(This could start of from December, this year)

Second year hold the election for (a) one Vice-President and (b) Secretary. . (Extend the term for these two
positions by one year to facilitate implementation of staggered elections effective 2011)

In this process, there is election every year but for different executive positions. This also provides continuity
in the executives. Annual General Body meetings every year will attract membership’s attendance.
 NOMINATION FOR SCCA EXECUTIVE POSITION
YEARS 2010 & 2012

Position: ……………………………………………………………………………………….....

Candidate’s Name: ...……………………………………………………………………………

Candidate’s club: ….…………………………………………………………………………….

(Start with the most recent club and the years with each club)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

List positions held with the club/SCCA ….…………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Candidate’s work history:

(Present employer and your title) ………………………………………………………………

Is there a possibility, in the next two years, of your not fulfilling your SCCA duties
because of promotions and/or transfer (re-location)? If so, please indicate the percentage
of such a thing materializing:
………………………….………………….………………………………………………………

Approximate hours in a week the candidate could spare for SCCA activities without
burdening his present job:
……………………………………….……….……………………………………………………
I, ………………………………………………………………, do hereby solemnly declare
that the above information is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and that I am
competing for an Executive Position in SCCA for the next two years, on my own will and
that I have not been coerced by anyone else.

In the event of any unforeseen circumstances that would prompt me to discontinue

working for SCCA, I would apprise the SCCA Board (however confidential that
circumstance may be) of the circumstances and seek their guidance.

Place: Los Angeles ………………………………………

Date: Candidate’s Signature

Nominated by: Seconded by:

(Print name)…………………………… (Print name) ………………………………….

Name of the club…………………… …. Name of the Club……………………………..

………………………………… ………………………….
Nominator’s signature: Seconder’s signature

Note: This application should at all-time be with the SCCA Secretary along with other records.
 Kiwi Shines Dr. V.V. Giri
Brendon McCullum, played one of the most memorable innings of world cricket to save a test match. I would
rate this innings as the best by any Kiwi batsman played at any time. The situation was precarious with NZ
already losing the opener in their second innings, facing a deficit of over 120 runs.

McCullum, with a tight defense and controlled aggression, moved the score board in the company of McIntosh.
When they lost 4 wickets, he partnered Williamson and stabilized the innings. Both batsmen displayed perfect
technique and kept the bowlers down. McCullum scored a double century and made sure that NZ forced a
draw in this test too.

Earlier, Kiwis bowled well to remove the Indian top order. Skipper Vettori was the pick of the bowlers. He
dismissed the dangerous Sehwag, Tendulkar and foxed Raina. But the new find of Indian batting- Harbajan had
other ideas. He continued from where he left in Ahmadabad. He played his shots with ease and in the company
of Sreesanth, scored a magnificent century and increased the lead to 120 runs.

Indians need to tighten their bowling, batting and fielding departments. The Kiwis handled the Indian bowlers
with ease. Zaheer was once again unfit and could not complete his 5th over. Sreesanth was very effective but is
impatient. He was trying too much and was very wayward. He wants wicket with each delivery which is
impossible not only in test cricket but in any form of cricket.

Harbajan was not effective and bowled lots of lose deliveries. Though Gambir and Pujara dropped catches in his
bowling, he was not the same Bhajji. Ojha has very good line and length, but without variation. He has to learn
to bowl deceptive flighted ‘arm balls’. Instead he bowls fastish straight deliveries which can be easily handled.

I feel Dhoni failed to utilize Raina to the maximum. Whenever Raina was called to bowl, he gave
breakthroughs. Dhoni should have given Raina more bowling, especially when the regular bowlers posed no
threat. I am sure Dhoni has a valid reason for not utilizing the bowling of Sehwag.

This test belongs to the Kiwis. Though, Harbajan sparkled with his batting, the Kiwis out played India in all the
departments.
SCCA Play off Finals

Division-I
VIJAYTA SCRAPES THROUGH!
WINS THE TIE SCORE GAME BY A SOLITARY WICKET!!
- By Staff Reporter

It was Vijayta Vs Hollywood, two of the most consistent teams in the Division, both having big names, fresh
legs, young blood and good cricketing head between their shoulders. A rivalry worth watching. The first
surprise of the day came when the two captains opted for a 40-over game. Vijayta won the toss and elected to
bat, with a hope of putting up a high total on the board that would test the reputed batting line-up of Hollywood.

With the early moisture on the pitch aided by slightly windy weather, the Hollywood fast bowlers should have
pitched the ball up to exploit the conditions. Instead they were in a defensive mode from ball one. They were
happier to bowl back-of-length in a containment mode. Not surprising, the first break through came in the form
of a run-out when Ankit Parmar’s excellent throw beat Sanjay who was pushing for a 3rd run.

The wicket was holding a bit and was slow off the wicket. This cost Tarun Reddy, his wicket. He played early
to a wide delivery outside the off stump and ended up giving an easy catch to Aditya at covers for a well made
31. This brought together the most experienced pair of Ravi Timbawala and Mehul Dave at the crease.
Surprisingly the Hollywood bowlers chose to continue their focus on containment. This gave the Ravi – Mehul
pair ample time to get themselves in. Aditya came on a trifle late to bowl than one would have expected.

The pair grew in confidence and starting milking the bowling without worrying about the run-rate. With 83/2 at
the end of 20 overs, it was time for the well set pair to press the gas pedal and that is what they did. Brilliant
hitting by Mehul Dave and a good percentage cricket by Ravi Timbawala, who scored 81 and 77 respectively,
gave a good launching pad for the rest of the batsmen to free their arms. The duo put on a 147 run partnership.
Vijayta put up a score of 233 for 8 in their allotted 40 Overs.

For the strong batting line-up of Hollywood, especially with the wicket drying up, this total should only be
considered a moderate one. Hollywood started briskly with both their openers, Nikhil Iyer and Ritesh Kadu got
on with their business straight away. Ritesh, the aggressive of the two blasted 67 runs of 48 deliveries and was
well supported by Nikhil who made 58 runs. The openers put on a partnership of 132 runs in 22.4 overs. The
game was surely heading one-way at this stage.

After every big partnership, the next wicket goes of very quickly. This has happened on many occasions in
various levels of Cricket. This game was no different. After losing Nikhil, Hollywood lost Ritesh when the
scoreboard read 137. Aditya who came at the fall of Nikhil’s wicket, needed time to settle down and all of a
sudden the runs were hard to come by. When Aditya fell, the Hollywood score was 187 for 4 in 32.4 overs.
With 47 runs required of 7.2 overs, the middle order panicked and the collapse was orchestrated by Mehul Dave
who bowled a brilliant second-spell taking 3 wickets.

Few lusty blows by the tail brought the game to the wire. With 10 required in the last over with the last pair
batting, it was almost certain that Vijayta would cross the winning line. The never-say-die spirit of Hollywood
was on display and the No. 10 batsman Parth Shastri and No. 11 batsman Ankit Bhakta scratched 5 runs in 5
balls leaving 5 to be scored of the final delivery. Parth Shastri stroked the final ball to the covers for a boundary
to level the score at 233.

With both teams scoring 233 in their allotted overs, Vijayta were declared winners as they lost only 8 wickets to
Hollywood’s 9. Truly a great game of Cricket for a Play-off Final.

Mehul Dave was declared the Most Valuable Player of the Finals, a well deserved recognition, for his
contribution in this game.

It was unfortunate that Hollywood who fought hard in the last few overs of their batting to reach 233 were not
able to share the Trophy. May be the SCCA should consider changing the rule to have a Bowl-out or a 1-over
inning during such ties. Declaring both teams as the Joint Winners would have been appropriate under the
circumstances.

With the season coming to an end, one hopes that bowlers have their practice pitches ready before the start of
the next season. The number of wides being sent down in every game is alarming. The finals saw a total of 31
wides from both sides. Hollywood bowled 14 and Vijayta 17. Suresh Nair of Vijayta sent down 9 of those. A
major game with so many wides conveys many wrong signals.

Scores: Vijayta 233 for 8 (Mehul Dave 81, Ravi Timbawala 77, Tarun Bhoomi Reddy 31, David Pieters 2 for
29, Aditya Thyagarajan 2 for 46, Anup Desai 2 for 50) Hollywood 233 for 9 (Ritesh Kadu 67, Nikhil Iyer 58,
Mandeep Singh Dhillon 25, Mehul Dave 3 for 29)

Result: Vijayta declared winners for losing less number of wickets than Hollywood.

Division-II
The game was between CSUF and Century CC at Wright. Due to wet and slippery wicket, the game was called
off and both the teams agreed to be the Joint Champions.

Division-III
The game was between Westwood CC and Colts CC at Marder. Due to wet wicket and slippery outfield, the
game was called off and the teams have agreed to play again on December 4, 2010

Division-IV
The game was between Citrus Valley CC and Friends CC at Wong. Due to wet wicket and a wet outfield, the
game was called off and both the teams agreed to be the Joint Champions.

Division-V
The game was between South Bay CC and Hollywood-III at Severn. Due to damp wicket and outfield, both the
teams agreed to play a Twenty20 game. South Bay CC won the game by 6 Wickets and were declared
champions of the Play off.
SCCA Season-end Statistics Staff Reporter

Awards Division I Division II Division III Division IV Division V

Div.
Hollywood I CSUF CC Inland Empire I Citrus Valley CC Hollywood III
Champion
Div. Runner
Vijayta CC Orange County Colts CC Friends CC Inland Empire II
Up
Playoff
Vijayta CC
Champion
Playoff
Hollywood I
Runner Up
Ritesh Kadu
Nagaraj Inamati Ajay Garyali Salman Ahmad Nandish Patel
MVP (Hollywood-
(Victoria CC) (Colts CC) (Citrus Valley CC) (Inland Empire II)
1)
Ravi R.
Divyesh Bhakta Salman Ahmad -
Timbawala - Viren Patel - 567 Nandish Patel - 696
Most Runs - 606 615
740 (Inland Empire I) (Inland Empire II)
(Hollywood-II) (Citrus Valley CC)
(Vijayta CC)
Ali Shafi - Parbhjot Singh - Nandish Patel -
Batting Sunil Nair - 46.17 Aijaz Ali - 90.60
61.18 49.50 53.54
Average (Westwood CC) (Citrus Valley CC)
(Pegasus CC) (Ventura CC) (Inland Empire II)
Hasan Imam - Rishi G. Desai - Salman Ahmad -
Manoj Arora - 37 Janek Patel - 48
Most Wickets 34 39 43
(University CC) (Inland Empire II)
(Pegasus CC) (CSUF CC) (Citrus Valley CC)
Nikhil Iyer - Ravi Singh - Ronak Patel - Mahmood Khan -
Ajay Thakur - 3.08
Best Economy 3.42 3.07 3.09 2.74
(South Bay CC)
(Hollywood I) (CSUF CC) (Deccan CC) (Pioneer CC)
E. Nishant Patel - 11 Sowrirajan
Theo
Venkatachalam - (Deccan CC) Sampath - 19
Mavrokefalos Manish Bhatt - 19
Best Fielder 13 Jason Broaster - (Hollywood-IV)
- 21 (BnB CC)
(Orange County 11 Jay Chaudhari - 19
(Pegasus CC)
CC) (Cal-Bel CC) (Regal CC)
Tarun
K.C. Manawadu Nadeem Ahmed - Lakhwinder Singh -
Best W. Bhoomi Vijay Raju - 33
- 29 29 23
Keeper Reddy - 26 (University CC)
(Century CC) (LA Bangals CC) (South Bay CC)
(Vijayta CC)
Ventura Cricket Club – Celebrating 25th Anniversary Staff Reporter

Ventura Cricket Club, started 25 years ago, the brainchild of cricket enthusiast friends from
Calcutta, India. Satyanarayana Karra, Jayadev Tumuluri & Vibhakar Verma living in Ventura
established the Club, bringing Cricket to Ventura County and its residents. They were soon
joined by Shankar Rao, Arif Modin, Ramesh Rao, Stuart Bollen, Vibhakar Verma, Dr. Sanjiv
Verma, S.K. Rangarajan, Ishwar Gordhan, Pankaj Patel, Leon Lamprecht, Rudy Clark and
Clive Wayne who are the original Core group of Ventura Cricketers! Over the course of 1985,
traveled to San Diego and Las Vegas as well as hosting teams as diverse as the visiting
Australian Baseball team!!

K.C.S. Rao joined the club and with the help of Wally Jayasinghe (Captain of Santa Barbara Cricket Club)
Ventura CC became a registered member of the Southern California Cricket Association (SCCA) and began
playing competitive Cricket in the SCCA League. Having initially played in about 4 successive school grounds,
the club finally settled and succeeded in obtaining permission to use El Camino High School, as their home
ground. In a short time, trio of Satya, Stuart and Wally developed El Camino high School grounds into a good
turf wicket. Just after 2 seasons, the home ground had to be relocated to Balboa Middle School. Joined by Santa
Barbara Cricket Club, it was developed into one
of the best turf grounds outside of Woodley. K.C.S.Rao, Chanda Roy, Shankar Rao, Sathya Karra, Dr. Sanjiv
Visiting teams enjoyed playing in cool Varma, and Mark Sood (present President)
conditions and welcoming temperatures at times
15 to 20 degrees cooler than the hot San
Fernando Valley. Nearby, Victoria pub became
the gathering joint for teams after a full day’s
game.

Joining the SCCA league in the third division in

1986, the team was led by Satya, as the
Founding President and Vibhakar as the first
Captain. Over the next 5 years the team grew
with players drawn from California State
University, Northridge and other college
students under the captaincy of Jayadev
Tumuluri, Sanjiv Verma and Shankar Rao.

Around 1992 the club suffered from continuity of core players as each member retired or moved from Ventura
County. Madhukar ‘Mark’ Sood, who had played earlier for Britamer Cricket Club and Santa Barbara Cricket
Club took over the helm of failing club and restored its membership with SCCA paying the outstanding dues,
thus, saving the club from certain suspensions and losing its seniority status. By now, the team declined to the
4th division. Madhukar sought assistance from local social cricket players, enabling the club to rise in ranks.
Maintaining club seniority, he was also successful in getting Woodley Cricket grounds for the club. Madhukar
later served as Vice President of SCCA league for 8 years and 2 years as the President.

Under Madhukar (Mark) Sood’s captaincy & leadership, the Club advanced from Division 4 of SCCA to
Division 2, winning division titles and many individual trophies and awards. He was rated the best wicket
keeper for 3 successive years. The team was ably supported by Jayesh Patel, Raj Shah, Vineet Dua, Malay
Wadhwa, Vishal Sood, Jiwanmall brothers, Jatin Bhasin, Navin Jain and many other good players.

Once the club reached the 2nd division, there was no looking back and top
players, likes of Ricky Singh, Yudhvir Kang, Abhimenyu Rajp (USA
national Youth player) & Gurtej Singh ‘Gary’ steered the club to its glory
days. Trio of Kang brothers led by Sabi Kang joined Ventura CC. Sabi’s
passion for cricket, financial help and unconditional support resulted in the
club advancing and winning the Division I trophy for successive years and
even the international tournaments such as the LA Open. The club, at one
stage, had boasted of players like Franklyn Rose- former West Indian pace
bowler, Gangashetty Arvind Kumar- former Hyderabad and India ‘A’
team player, Asela Jayasinghe- former Sri Lanka ‘A’ team player, Mithun Minhas- Delhi Ranji & IPL player,
US national player- Jignesh Desai & Nasir Islam, leagues best wicketkeeper- Kartik Patel and many former
West Indies and Indian players. Ventura CC played as the Punjab Blues team in the LA open tournaments and
was led by former West Indies captain Richie Richardson. Key players included Curtley Ambrose, Stuart
Williams, Adam Stanford, Jermaine Lawson, Meryvn Dillon, Orlando Baker, Leon Gerrick, Reon King,
Lambert (Current US selector) besides our local stars. On lookers wondered and were heard commenting `Why
not Punjab Blacks’. To which we responded, mixed with Punjabi browns- all have become `Punjab Blues’.

Ricky Singh & Franklyn Rose was the

most feared opening pair in the SCCA
supported by a talented list of players that
followed. Between the years 2005 to 2008
club set many records- highest score in
one day games, won MVP, best bowler,
best batsman, best average awards and
more.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010

Club is currently ranked 6th in 2nd division.
Current Players in contention of division
trophies are- Prabhjot Singh, best batsman
& MVP, Imran Server- best batting
average, fastest century and most no. of
sixes scored in just 7 games. The club is
supported by Amardeep Singh & Navin
Jain, who helped both financially and
otherwise in the last few years. The club is thankful to Amarjit Sekhon, Victor Vimal Desai and Pramod Sutrave
amongst many others for their support as well.
 Player Profile – Aijaz Ali Staff Reporter

Aijaz Ali was born in Karachi, Pakistan on 20th of June 1968. He developed his cricketing
skills there and later moved to USA. Aijaz is a good right-hand batsman and an effective
right arm medium-fast bowler. He played for the US National Cricket Team between 1993
and 2005. He also played 2 ODIs for them in 2004.

Aijaz first played for the Ventura CC in SCCA League. Some prolific scores and useful
contributions with the Ball caught the eyes of the Selectors, who promptly picked him for
the USA side in 1993. He was under utilized in the national side both with the Bat and the
Ball. It was unfortunate that he was often sent lower down in the batting order while
playing for the Country.
Image from cricinfo.com

He has represented USA in the 1994 ICC Trophy in Nairobi and the 1997 ICC Trophy in Kuala Lampur. He
made his List A debut in 2000 Red Stripe Bowl, playing matches against Jamaica, Canada and Trinidad &
Tobago.

He also played in the 2001 ICC Trophy in Ontario. He was out of favor for a while and after good
performances in the domestic circuit was brought back into the National side to play in the ICC 6 Nations
Challenge in the United Arab Emirates. His much awaited First-Class debut came in 2004, when he played in
the ICC Intercontinental Cup against Canada in Fort Lauderdale against Bermuda. He also played in the
Americas Championship in Bermuda.

Though he was consistent in the domestic circuit, he was not able to transform his form in the International
Stage. Though he was a regular in the side, he got few chances to Bat or Bowl and was not able to impress
whenever given a chance.

He still continues to dominate the local league. He currently plays for Citrus in the SCCA Division 4 League.
In the recently concluded League season, he played only 8 Innings and scored 3 centuries and a fifty with an
aggregate of 453 runs averaging 90.60.

For the USA National side, he played 2 ODIs scoring a total of 5 runs and did not bowl. In the 2 first class
games he played he scored a total of 82 runs with 36 as his highest. He bowled a total of only 8 overs and failed
to take any wicket after conceding 19 runs. He played a total of 11 List A games but got to bat only in 8 innings
and scored a total of 88 runs with 35 as his highest. He bowled only 3 overs in these games and gave away 29
runs without taking a wicket.

Aijaz is a story of a promising cricketer failing to live up to the reputation in the International arena. A talent
spotted early but failed to transform.
The Performers

Tarun Bhoomi Reddy Salman Ahmad

Divyesh Bhakta (Vijayta CC) (Citrus Valley CC)
(Hollywood – II) Best Wicket-Keeper (26 Victims) in Most Wickets (43 Wkts) in Division IV
Most Runs (606 Runs) in Division II Division I Most Runs (615 Runs) in Division IV
Most Valuable Player – Division IV

cricinfo.com Nagaraj Inamati

Aijaz Ali Ritesh Kadu (Victoria CC)
(Citrus Valley CC) (Hollywood 1)
Most Valuable Player – Division II
Best Batting Average (90.60) in Division Most Valuable Player – Division I
IV