Judge slams B.C.'s governing cricket bodies over handling of dispute

B.C.'s two main cricket organizations have been scolded for their handling of a Metro Vancouver cricket club's internal dispute.

According to a Supreme Court of B.C. ruling, Cricket B.C., also known as the West Coast Cricket Organization, and the B.C. Mainland Cricket Association both acted unfairly toward the Salim Akbar Cricket Club which was stripped of membership.

In the ruling, Justice Catherine Murray said that the Salim Akbar club was in a state of turmoil. She called one group “the registered directors,” listed in the society's register as directors. She called the dissident group “the purported directors,” since they are not on the society's register.

The judgment states that on Sept. 30, 2023, Cricket B.C. did not permit the person registered as president of the Salim Akbar club to vote on behalf of the club, instead allowing Nawaz Tonoli, one of the purported directors, to vote. Following this, the secretary of Cricket B.C. admitted the group did not check society records to confirm whether Tonoli was a registered director.

On Oct. 21, the dissident group incorporated a new society — the Salak Cricket Club — purporting to replace the Salim Akbar club.

The following day, the president of Cricket B.C. told the director of Cricket B.C. that Salim Akbar club was being terminated by Cricket B.C. and replaced by the Salak club.

Neither Cricket B.C. nor the B.C. Mainland Cricket Association contacted the registered directors of Salim Akbar club before doing this, Murray wrote in her ruling.

Also, the club was not told the reason for the termination or provided with an opportunity to be heard as required under the B.C. Mainland Cricket Association's bylaws and the Societies Act, she wrote.