Singapore Cricket Association’s AGM: Mahmood Gaznavi Re-elected as President After Anton J. Ravindran Withdraws
The Singapore Cricket Association’s (SCA) annual general meeting (AGM) on September 24th was expected to witness a heated contest for the presidency. However, what seemed like a potential showdown turned into an anticlimax when presidential candidate Anton J. Ravindran withdrew his bid just minutes before the election. As a result, the incumbent president, Mahmood Gaznavi, secured another three-year term unopposed.es (Aimag) in Thailand after their squad announcements.
Ravindran’s Reasons for Withdrawal
Ravindran, who serves as the president of the Ceylon Sports Club and had contested the 2023 election, explained his decision to step down in a letter addressed to Gaznavi prior to the meeting. He cited two main reasons for his withdrawal.
First, he raised concerns about the executive committee’s voting rights as outlined in the SCA constitution, calling them “unacceptable.” According to him, the current structure disproportionately favors the committee members over the member clubs. Additionally, he highlighted the restriction that limits each member club to only one representative at the meeting, which he believes stifles broader participation from the cricketing community.
“We’ve brought up this issue before, and we’ll continue to do so because it’s completely unfair,” Ravindran told The Straits Times. “We need to examine the constitution further and explore all options to protect, improve, and transform cricket’s declining status.”
While he was excited for the Games, the 28-year-old said there must be good reasons for the postponement. The Covid-19 pandemic, political uncertainty after the 2023 Thai general election, and the Paris Olympics delayed the event four times, originally slated for May 2021.
Concerns Over the SCA Constitution
The SCA constitution, amended in March following an extraordinary general meeting, now allows 15-member clubs and seven executive committee members to vote on changes and elections. The rights of life members to vote have been removed under the new rules. Moreover, the amendment extended the executive committee’s term from one to three years, aligning it with the tenure of other national sports associations.
Ravindran expressed his dissatisfaction with these changes, emphasizing that an AGM should be a platform for stakeholders to raise concerns, whether they pertain to financial, governance, or compliance issues. He noted that, for the first time, other stakeholders were restricted from attending the AGM.
This year’s AGM stood in stark contrast to the previous one, which was marked by heated debates and intense questioning from the attendees. Last year, Gaznavi had narrowly defeated Ravindran with a 16-8 vote. However, with Ravindran stepping down this time, the elections proceeded smoothly for the other six positions in the SCA executive committee.ang said they are a little bit disappointed but that this is a busy year for them.
Subir Ghatak (deputy president), Sundaramoorthi Santhanam (vice-president), Balakrishnan Rajesh (vice-president), Muraleedharan Manesh (honorary secretary), and Shantonu Bhadury (honorary treasurer) were all re-elected. Ajmal Rasheed Manisseril, who represented individual members, chose not to seek re-election and was replaced by Rashid Ahmed Khan.
Gaznavi’s Vision for the Future
Mahmood Gaznavi, who has led the SCA since 2015, begins his 10th term as president with a clear focus on addressing key challenges. During the 2023 AGM, several members criticized the association for its inability to secure a new training ground after the national teams vacated their previous facility in Kallang in 2016. The teams had been training at a shared facility at the Singapore Indian Association before finally moving into their new home at the West Coast Ground in February.mes 2025 qualification.
Gaznavi acknowledged the need to improve the association’s infrastructure. “We need to get our facilities in order and enhance our support system so that Singapore becomes an attractive destination for foreign teams,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of fostering competition within the national team by integrating younger players into the squad.
While Gaznavi remains aware of the challenges facing the national team, he expressed optimism about recalibrating expectations and working towards a more competitive future. “We recognize the hurdles we’ve faced in national team training, and we’re committed to addressing these issues,” he concluded.
As Gaznavi embarks on his new term, the SCA will need to address the concerns raised by stakeholders like Ravindran and continue working towards the growth and development of cricket in Singapore. Ensuring fair governance and providing adequate facilities will be essential steps in securing a bright future for the sport in the country.