Canada says thanks - a message from the CCA President

The Executive and Board of the Canadian Cricket Association thank the fans, players, officials, umpires, referees, management subcommittee, volunteers, organizing committee and the ICC and IDI staff for their outstanding support, commitment and contributions.

ICC Trophy 2001 is the largest cricket tournament in the world. ICC Trophy 2001 was on preliminary reports one of if not the best of all the ICC Trophy Events to date. Congratulations to all who contributed to make the Event such a resounding success.

The Regal Constellation Hotel did a fantastic job in meeting the needs of our guests. Congratulations to them and we wish the management and staff continued successes in the future.

We were saddened by the absences of our friends from Italy and from West Africa. We hope that no such problems will be repeated in the future.

Canada and the Canadian cricket community must now carry the torch into the world Cup in 2003 in south Africa. This requires even more herculean efforts in preparing our players for battle. Support is needed to ensure that our best team can be allowed to take the field. Contributions to the Canadian Cricket Association World Cup fund are welcome and Federal tax receipts are available for any contributors who so wish.

How can you help? Sponsor a player, coach a junior team or help to provide a coach, be a manager of a junior team? The avenues are endless.

Call your M. P., M. P. P., City Councillor for their support for better recognition for cricket. All such lobbying is needed to allow us to be competitive in 2003 at the World Cup. We have turf wickets in Toronto, Ajax, King City and Mississauga. They must be maintained to allow our junior and senior players to become familiar with turf games of 1 to 4 day duration. We thank all municipalities and hosting clubs for their stellar performances and also to Mike Corley, his associates and his professionals for their contributions.

Finally, to the International Cricket Council members and staff, thanks for the opportunity to allow Canada to host ICC Trophy 2001, especially in the trying financial circumstances of the devastating loss of vitally needed funding from the Pakistan India Sahara Cup series. Such funding is of course, even more critical now.

We trust that Canada will get another opportunity to see and play against such great players from any of the Full Members and top notch Associates, where funds permit. All FM's have assisted in the past and we need that help in the future. To the WICB and to the BCCSL, we especially thank you for your assistance especially in the last year. Those tours and competition materially enhanced our chances of qualifying. We greatly appreciate your friendship and your selfless contributions.

Take time out to visit other parts of this magnificent country, the best in the world next time out.'

Dr. Geoff Edwards President Canadian Cricket Association