I am a cricket league administrator and player deeply invested in the growth and fair play of cricket in Newfoundland and Labrador. Recently, an alarming decision was made by the Cricket NL administration that has raised serious concerns about the integrity of our selection process for the provincial team. A player named Haroon Safi, who had not been active within our province since the 2023 season, was suddenly selected for the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial team. This decision not only undermines the hard work and dedication of regularly active players but also calls into question the transparency and fairness of the selection process.

Haroon Safi's selection seems to contradict the principles of fair play and meritocracy that our league stands for. Our local cricket players dedicate countless hours to practice, games, and leagues, molding their skills to earn a spot on the provincial team. Many of these dedicated players have consistently demonstrated not only their cricketing abilities but their steadfast commitment to the sport and community throughout the off-seasons and current seasons. By selecting a player who has been absent from the province for an extended period, the selectors have rendered this hard work invisible, sending a disheartening message to all.

A Clear Conflict of Interest
What makes this decision especially troubling is the connection behind it. Haroon Safi was associated with the provincial captain's club back in the 2023 season. Selecting an inactive player who has a prior association with the captain — over active, committed players who have earned their place through consistent performance — creates a clear appearance of favoritism and raises legitimate questions about whether personal relationships, rather than merit, are driving selection decisions. A selection process that operates this way is a misuse of the trust and authority placed in our leadership.

Accountability
The decisions of Cricket NL are made by people, and those people must be accountable to the players and community they serve. We are therefore calling on the following individuals to publicly explain and justify this selection:

President: Saad Ahmad, as the head of Cricket NL, ultimately responsible for the integrity and governance of the organization.

Selectors:  Wahid Raj, Vinai Hingoo, and Osama Saeed — directly responsible for the selection decision and for applying (or failing to apply) fair, consistent criteria.

Provincial Captain:  Wajid Ali — given the documented prior association between the captain's club and the selected player, we ask that any role or influence in this decision be fully disclosed.

We are not asking for blind punishment but we are asking for transparency, answers, and consequences where they are warranted.

Our Demands
Formation of an Independent Disciplinary Committee: We call for the immediate establishment of an independent disciplinary committee — free from conflict of interest and not including any of the individuals named above — to investigate this selection, the conflict of interest behind it, and the conduct of those responsible.

Suspension from All Cricket Activities: Should the committee find that favoritism, conflict of interest, or misuse of authority influenced this decision, we demand that the individuals found responsible be suspended for a defined period from all club-level and board-level cricket activities within the province — including selection, administration, and leadership roles. This suspension must be sufficient to restore confidence in the integrity of Cricket NL and to make clear that abuse of position will not be tolerated.

By taking these steps, Cricket NL can demonstrate that it holds its leadership to the same standards of fairness and commitment it expects from its players. Accountability at the top is what protects the spirit and integrity of cricket in Newfoundland and Labrador.

I urge you to sign this petition to bring about the necessary changes in Cricket NL. Let's work together to uphold the integrity of our sport and provide a fair chance to those who earn it every day on the field.