Photo Credit: LinkedIn Profile Photo of @Ashraf Burns
Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) held its 32nd Annual General Meeting last week where President Ashraf Burns bid farewell to the Members Council, fellow directors and staff.
He stated that together, we have witnessed the evolution of Newlands Cricket Ground into a multi-purpose precinct and the evolution of cricket as whole as T20 cricket became a force to be reckoned with. We have embraced change and adapted to new paradigms to create a legacy that will undoubtedly endure. Our shared commitment to excellence has been the driving force behind some of our accomplishments, and for that, I am immensely proud.
He firstly acknowledged the undeniable charm of this historic venue called Newlands Cricket Ground, the legacy it represents and the place that it holds in the hearts of countless fans and players alike. Newlands has witnessed some of the most memorable moments in cricket history, and it continues to be a testament to the sport’s spirit of camaraderie, competition, and excellence.
As he looked back on his time as President, he was overwhelmed with a deep sense of fulfillment. The path we have traveled together has been one marked by onerous challenges (some conquered and others we are still grappling with), goals achieved, and most importantly, relationships forged. Every step of the way, he has been humbled and inspired by the dedication, passion, and talent that each of the members, stakeholders, sponsors and staff brings to the organization.
He reflected on the successes over the past seasons and congratulated:
- The WP Women players and team on being crowned the over-50 champions.
- Claire Terblanche, our Women’s Coach, who was crowned Coach of the Year at the CSA Awards and Cape Town Sports Council Coach of the Year.
- Provincial contracts were awarded to: Delmi Tucker, Nosipho Vesi, Leah Jones, Saarah Smith and Tatum Le Roux.
- National contracts were awarded to: Laura Wolfvaard, Lara Goodall, Nadine De Klerk and Sinalo Jafta.
- High performance contracts: Andrie Steyn and Faye Tunnicliffe. Sadly we have had to say farewell to Laura Wolfvaardt and Sinalo Jafta who have decided to seek greener pastures.
- Two U19 girls who participated in the inaugural U19 girls World Cup.
- Veterans cricket who has played a significant role since their acceptance as an ancillary member, they have clinched various national week competitions in the past season, players selected for national teams and would like to congratulate Allan Dawson on his CSA Player of the Year award.
- 98% of all club cricket fixtures were completed across the leagues.
- Academy team won 86% of its matches.
He expressed his heartfelt gratitude and thanked the clubs for allowing him to be a part of their lives, for trusting him with this position, and for collaborating with him to create an organization we can all be proud of.
As outgoing President, Asharf congratulated Johannes Adams, previous Vice President, on his election as the new President and De Vries Basson as Vice President. “May the journey ahead be filled with great achievements, boundless innovation, and enduring camaraderie. He has the utmost confidence in the bright future that awaits us as WP.”
The CEO, Michael Canterbury, extended a heartfelt welcome to Jameel Magiet and Stanley Maqubela who are the newly elected non-independent directors. “We are thrilled to have you join our team and contribute your expertise, insights, and leadership to our organization,” he said.
“You will undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective to our board discussions and decision-making processes. We believe your contributions will greatly enhance our ability to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and continue our journey of growth and innovation.”
We are also pleased that Niyaaz Ebrahim was re-elected for a second term.
