Determination, discipline, and dedication are the three words that aptly describe Shah Zafar, President, Ontario Cricket.
Shah Zafar is an athlete, a cricketer, a basketball referee, a cricket umpire and a renowned sports administrator whose experience spans over four long decades.
A migrant from Karachi, Pakistan, Zafar has been a passionate cricket
follower since his college days. The initial inspiration e came from his
university captain, the legendary Haroon Rasheed.
It has been three generations of Zafars who have been in Canada since
1973, and there has been no looking back. In the beginning, Zafar played
for the National Cricket Club in Toronto District Cricket Association in
the second division till 1980. When he moved up North, Zafar took to
basketball and hockey. Eventually, he became a certified basketball
referee recognized by the International Association of basketball Official
(National level). For the last thirty years, Zafar is acting as a basketball
referee at provincial levels.
“I play every sport,” states Zafar with the nonchalance that comes with years of experience as a real achiever. Along
with his matter of fact attitude, Shah Zafar is equally humble and calm about being inducted in “Cricket Hall of Fame”
(USA)in the Administration Category, a rare honor for a Canadian recognizing his work in the US from 2014 onwards.
“It gave me an inexplicable joy,” Zafar reflects on
receiving this recognition without going much into the
details.
It was MAC ( Mahammad) Qureshi, CEO and founder
of US OPEN Cricket, who facilitated Zafar’s entry into the
Cricket Council USA in 2014. Soon after joining CCUSA,
Shah played a pivotal role in contributing to CCUSA
cricket development and promotion programs in the
USA by developing a cricket development framework
for youth, cricket tournaments and professional league
concept documents.
As a Tournament Director of the US OPEN T20 tournament,
Zafar developed an operational framework for playing
conditions, code of conduct policies, protest process,
scheduling, oversee umpiring assignment and match
management.
.
But that is not all. Zafar has been recognized across the
spectrum of sporting activities for his immense contribution.
In 2008, he was conferred with the Canada Basketball
Officials Association award of merit, “John A. (Wink)Willox
Award,” presented yearly to one recipient in each province.
Incidentally, Zafar is the first South Asian to be bestowed
with such an honor.
These recognitions came for Zafar’s relentless hard work
towards bettering the cause of sport, creating innovative
solutions, leading people from the front and exhibiting
superior organizational skills. Zafar has handled quite a
few critical and sensitive responsibilities. Between 2006
and 2008, he served as the Vice President for the Ontario
Association of Basketball Officials. Between 1988-89, he
also officiated as the President of Elliot Lake Minor Hockey
Association.high-performance program ensures regional players
get selected for the national level.
Covid -19 has impacted every arena of life, and sports
are no exception. It has made the execution of the
High-Performance Program a challenge too. The 2020
Women’s winter camp had to be cancelled, so was
the 2020 winter camp for the youth. Shah is hopeful to
organize another camp in January 2021. Because of the
pandemic, the number of participants may be reduced
to small groups of 10 from a single robust 30. With empty
stands and low media coverage, acquiring new sponsors
amid the Coronavirus is another challenge.
But that hasn’t dampened the spirit of neither Zafar nor
his team. He is working shoulder by shoulder to celebrate
e 155 years of cricket in Canada in 2022. Though a bit
premature, thoughts are already in place to execute the
grand plans. Cricket Ontario wishes to honor those who
have served cricket in Ontario and induct them into the
Cricket Ontario Hall of Fame.
As the President of Cricket Ontario, Zafar’s plan for 2021
is to build a responsible and transparent organization.
He also wishes to communicate more with the U 18
group and members of the Youth Committee. The Highperformance
camp on top of his list; Zafar plans to
start the program in the second week of January 2021,
adhering to all restrictions.
The Cricket Ontario programs are producing high skilled
players for Ontario. Zafar is optimistic that many more
players will pass out of the High-Performance Program
and eventually represent Canada. The Canadian U19
team has already selected 11 Players who graduated
from this program and played in the 2018 & 2020 ICC U19
World Cup.
This comes from Zafar’s long experience with the U 16, U
18 and U 19 teams. Between 2015 and 2017, Zafar officiated
as Team Manager for Ontario U-16/U18.
In 2017& 2019, Cricket Canada appointed Zafar as a
Program Manager for Canada U19 Team, where he played
a significant role in developing the Canadian U19 team’s
training program in successfully winning the ICC America
Zafar was also invited to join the Board of Directors–
North Bay YMCA between 1992 – 1995, and the list
goes on.
Zafar’s friends in Toronto saw the talent in him.
Eventually, his ability to work hard and improve
himself made Zafar the President of the Hamilton
& District Cricket League, which he held between
2011 and 2015. As President of HDCL, Zafar used his
cricket administration expertise to the fullest extent
possible. With support from proven administrators,
Zafar brought discipline back to ensure the smooth
functioning of HDCL, even if it meant changing bylaws.
Zafar is a Certified Coach ICC Level 1and Certified
Coach Cricket Australia Level 2.Zafar’s certification
and experience as a cricket coach himself came of
great use in refurbishing the umpires’ skill level in
HDCL. This resulted in running structured leagues and
considerable growth of the organization.
“I hope the changes that I made are still retained,”
smiles Zafar with a look of nostalgia on his face.
In addition to his Coaching qualifications Zafar is also
impressively qualified as an Umpire. He has been
certified by both Cricket Canada (Level 3) and Cricket
West Indies!
Cricket Ontario happened side by side. Zafar has
been the first Vice President of the Cricket Council of
Ontario since 2011and the President of Cricket Ontario
since 2018.
True to his reputation, as the President of Cricket
Ontario, Shah has led from the front and been totally
transparent regarding his intentions. He has been
instrumental in defining Ontario Cricket’s mission
and vision and developing strategic plans. Several
projects and programs like the Youth Development
Framework, Skill development and High-Performance
Programs for player development have been some
of Zafar’s brainchild. The seamless transition of
players from grassroots to junior level and then up to
senior level and the process of sustainable delivery
of structured programs for cricket development
Determination, discipline, and dedication are the three words that aptly describe Shah Zafar, President, Ontario
Cricket.
Shah Zafar is an athlete, a cricketer, a basketball referee, a cricket umpire and a renowned sports administrator whose
experience spans over four long decades.
A migrant from Karachi, Pakistan, Zafar has been a passionate cricket
follower since his college days. The initial inspiration e came from his
university captain, the legendary Haroon Rasheed.
It has been three generations of Zafars who have been in Canada since
1973, and there has been no looking back. In the beginning, Zafar played
for the National Cricket Club in Toronto District Cricket Association in
the second division till 1980. When he moved up North, Zafar took to
basketball and hockey. Eventually, he became a certified basketball
referee recognized by the International Association of basketball Official
(National level). For the last thirty years, Zafar is acting as a basketball
referee at provincial levels.
“I play every sport,” states Zafar with the nonchalance that comes with years of experience as a real achiever. Along
with his matter of fact attitude, Shah Zafar is equally humble and calm about being inducted in “Cricket Hall of Fame”
(USA)in the Administration Category, a rare honor for a Canadian recognizing his work in the US from 2014 onwards.
“It gave me an inexplicable joy,” Zafar reflects on
receiving this recognition without going much into the
details.
It was MAC ( Mahammad) Qureshi, CEO and founder
of US OPEN Cricket, who facilitated Zafar’s entry into the
Cricket Council USA in 2014. Soon after joining CCUSA,
Shah played a pivotal role in contributing to CCUSA
cricket development and promotion programs in the
USA by developing a cricket development framework
for youth, cricket tournaments and professional league
concept documents.
As a Tournament Director of the US OPEN T20 tournament,
Zafar developed an operational framework for playing
conditions, code of conduct policies, protest process,
scheduling, oversee umpiring assignment and match
management.
.
But that is not all. Zafar has been recognized across the
spectrum of sporting activities for his immense contribution.
In 2008, he was conferred with the Canada Basketball
Officials Association award of merit, “John A. (Wink)Willox
Award,” presented yearly to one recipient in each province.
Incidentally, Zafar is the first South Asian to be bestowed
with such an honor.
These recognitions came for Zafar’s relentless hard work
towards bettering the cause of sport, creating innovative
solutions, leading people from the front and exhibiting
superior organizational skills. Zafar has handled quite a
few critical and sensitive responsibilities. Between 2006
and 2008, he served as the Vice President for the Ontario
Association of Basketball Officials. Between 1988-89, he
also officiated as the President of Elliot Lake Minor Hockey
Association.
WICKETSin Ontario has been one of Zafar’s key result areas.
Also, Zafar has developed organizational policies and
procedures to build a successful operational team
that delivers the highest quality coaching to support
the programs.
The Cricket Ontario programs produce highly skilled players
and outstanding results in creating awareness and interest
among parents and the public. In 2019, there were over 500
teams in Ontario with 10 full members in Cricket Ontario.
Zafar has a strong team to support him in all the organizational
initiatives.
Unconditional support came from his colleagues, namely,
Ranjit Chaudhri, the current President of HDCL, Praim Persaud,
Farooq Kirmani, Mohammed Shaikh, and many others who
have been extending rock-solid support to Shah’s mission in
building Cricket Ontario.
Since 2014, Zafar introduced the Ontario High-Performance
Program for Cricket Ontario, where he currently officiates
as its Director. The program has a mandate for more youth
and female participation. Cricket Ontario held the first
high-performance camp for women. In the twenty-week
high-intensity program, participants go through a series
of group and individual training, both indoor and outdoor.
The association has grown by leaps and bounds since its
inception. With a clear focus on personal development, theQualifier to qualify for the 2018 & 2020 U19 World Cup. He
performed as a Team statistician for the Canadian U19
team at the 2020 World Cup in South Africa. In 2018 &
2019, Zafar was appointed as a Team Manager of the ICC
Sanctioned Global T20 League in Canada, for Franchise
Edmonton Royals and Brampton Wolves, respectively.
What is the secret key to the success of the man who
has achieved so much? Zafar gives total credit to his wife
Naushaba, his family, and his Cricket Ontario team, his
best friends and worst critics.
It has been a fulfilling and rewarding journey for Zafar.
Now retired, he enjoys a long and active life in sports. Zafar
is single-mindedly focused on seeing the exponential
growth of Cricket Ontario.
“As Cricket Ontario’s President, my goal is to build a
sustainable player development structure with expert
coaches to develop and produce high skills players in
Ontario. I am hoping I can succeed in my dream,” asserts
Zafar.
The same goes for the Canadian team, too, feels Zafar.
Canada has better talents than the US, but Canada needs
committed coaches who can bridge the gap between
junior and senior players to accomplish its goals.
“We need to finish at the top of the table, and we will not
give up till we do so”, closes Zafar with a thumbs up.
WE WILL FINISH, AND WE ARE NOT GIVING UP: SHAH ZAFAR
