SAD DEMISE OF USMAN

Kuwait Cricket officials were honored to have had Mr. Bandula Warnapura, the newly appointed ACC Development Manager & Mr. Iqbal Sikander, the ACC Development officer who had embarked at the oil rich kingdom as part of their visit to tour the ACC gulf member countries.

A highly respected cricketer and Administrator, Mr. Bandula Warnapura had the distinction of being the first ever Skipper of the Sri Lankan national cricket team  after Sri Lanka had attained Test status. Mr. Warnapura, prior to joining ACC was the Director of Cricket Operations at Sri Lanka where he streamlined the cricket activities in a professional & innovative manner.

Mr. Bandula, as he is popularly known had a very fruitful meeting hosted by HE. Sheikh Dari Fahd Al Ahmed Al-Sabah, The President of Kuwait Cricket and Board members such as Mr. Haider Farman, Yusuf Bash, Emad Al-Jassam, Shahid Mirza and several Kuwait Cricket Executive Council members ie Jeff de Lange, Sanal Govind, Anjum Raza, Samir Desai, Mahmood Rasheed and Asad Baig. Several issues related to the development program of cricket in Kuwait were discussed and Kuwait Cricket officials extended the support to Mr. Bandula in implementing ACC development plans.

Mr. Bandula Warnapura & Iqbal Sikander thanked Kuwait Cricket officials for their wonderful hospitality & were highly impressed with Kuwait’s significant strides made at domestic & International level.

Rebirth of KCA as Kuwait Cricket

Kuwait City, Monday October 5, 2008.After the launching of Kuwait Cricket Association (KCA) in the year 1996 under the able leadership of HE. Sheikh Dhari Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah, cricket in Kuwait has reached great heights. The most remarkable achievement was the elevation of Kuwait as an Associate member of International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2005. The latest milestone achieved by Kuwait Cricket Association has been the launching of its own cricket ground in Sulaibiya, which is endowed with a beautifully laid natural turf wicket and lush green outfield.

In order to streamline and cater the growth of cricket in Kuwait, both on domestic as well as at International levels, on behalf of HE Sheikh Dhari Fahd Al Ahmed Al-Sabah, Haider Farman, General Secretary of KCA announced the restructuring of the Administration of Cricket in Kuwait which will now be known as KUWAIT CRICKET instead of Kuwait Cricket Association (KCA). The newly elected body is affiliated to Kuwait Olympic Committee and Public Authority for Youth and Sports.  Moreover, Kuwait Cricket will be an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and a full member of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and our status with both the ICC and ACC will be unaffected by this change.

The recent change of name is a move by HE Sheikh Dhari Fahd Al Ahmed Al-Sabah whose intention is to ensure the best governance of the game.  As with KCA before, Kuwait Cricket will comprise an Executive Board, supported by an Executive Council. 

The Executive Board will be responsible for maintaining an overview of the administration of cricket in Kuwait, responsible for all issues of policy and international affairs.  The Board members will comprise:

HE Sheikh Dhari Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah – President, Kuwait Cricket
Mr. Faisal Al Marzouk - Vice President
Mr. Haider Farman - Secretary General/Treasurer
Mr. Yousef Ali Bash & Mr. Emad Al Jassam will also function as Board members
Ms. Layla Al-Haji will represent the board on behalf of Women’s Cricket in Kuwait
Mr. Shahid Mirza will be advisor.

The Executive Council will be smaller than before in order to promote efficiency in management but will, as before, be responsible for overseeing the day to day affairs of cricket in Kuwait.

Mr. Jeff de Lange will be the new Chairman of the Council, and will be supported by five Directors:

Director for Domestic Cricket              -           Mr. Sanal Govind
Director for Cricket Development        -           Mr. Anjum Raza
Director for Coaching                          -           Mr. Sameer Faisal Desai
Director of Umpiring                            -           Mr. Riaz Chaudhari
Director of Women’s Cricket               -           Ms. Layla Al Haji

All day to day affairs of Kuwait Cricket will be administered by a new Director General, Mr. Asad Baig.