"It is not who is right, but what is right that is of importance." Ring out the old – ring in the new. For Canada, 2001 has been both full of promise, but frustrating because of still vastly unfilled potential growth.

The ICC Trophy 2001 was a brand new and untried format, the largest event of its kind and yet was " the best of the previous Events." To the many people at ICC, CCA and the CCA organizing sub-committee, we again extend our congratulations and thanks for their sterling efforts. The CCA Boards of Directors that stayed the course, approving the Bid process and the Event, sometimes in trying financial circumstances we salute you." "When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion."

Against many odds, we have qualified teams for the U-19 world Cup in New Zealand in January 2002 and for the Senior world Cup in south Africa in 2003. We thank the many coaches, umpires, volunteers, scorers, families and supporters, all essential to continue Canada's path to excellence.

Most importantly we thank the commitment and sacrifice of the players and officials who got Canada this far. Far greater commitment and sacrifice is now needed. Can we deliver? We have done it before. We shall do it again. The players need your complete support, however. We have training and multiple prep tournaments in 2002 and in 2003 leading up to the World Cup. Youth players need to be groomed and encouraged to step up.

We wish our fellow World Cup bound colleagues in Kenya, Holland and Namibia, the best in the future and in the World Cup. Kenya we trust will shortly follow our friends in Bangladesh to FM status.

We in Canada continue to strive to follow them initially to ODI member status, in the immediate future. It is a beacon of hope for development in the vast Americas television market. Time waits for no one. " Set a stout heart to a steep hillside." We at the CCA wish the Full, Associate and Affiliate members of International Cricket a peaceful and productive year. " Either men will learn to live like brothers, or they will die like beasts." Battles should be fought on the cricket field with bat and ball, not with bullets and accusations or provocations.

Canada's international diplomatic and safety record are avenues for renewed cricket international prime-time event marketing. Our World Cup bound teams will benefit profoundly, as will Americas' development.

We hope that we shall experience a "cricket-year"- no new crises, no alleged or real exposé's, no new actions, incidents or confrontations that bring the greatest game in the world into disrepute. We need action, not words. "Clapping with the right hand only, will not produce a noise!" We seek a year of recovery and of growth in Canada, in the Americas and around the whole fraternity of world cricket.

To all but especially to our players, officials and volunteers and in the Associates and Affiliates, our best wishes. We offer that: "In order to succeed we must first believe that we can." "In every thought and action, think excellence." It must follow.

If frustrated, consider that "Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit." Press on. Respect and respectability shall come! " `God' seeks comrades and claims love (respect?), the devil seeks slaves and claims obedience?" " To do all that one is able to do is to be a man, to all that one would like to do, is to be a God!" HAPPY NEW YEAR!

© CCA

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