IN 2021, clubs in the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League passed a rule that all members of the league’s executive committee must stand down after serving a three-year term.

That period has now expired and, although some league members are wishing that the rule hadn’t been passed, such a good job the league’s executive committee have been doing, the league faces a new dawn in much better heart.

In 2021 the very future of the league was in question, but, chiefly thanks to the drive of league chairman Dr Rizwan Hameed - one of those who is now standing down - the Mutual Sunday School League can look forward with optimism.

He, along with his fellow executive committee members, have helped to create a list of positive achievements that would fill a sheet of A4 paper and have left the league in an excellent state.

In his “retirement” speech, Dr Hameed, affectionately known as Dr Sahib, said to the league’s annual meeting at the Karmand Centre: “I want to congratulate you all for playing competitive cricket.

“We had to wait until the last two weeks for titles to be decided, and I want to thank Gaurav Kumar for staying on as results and fixtures secretary.

“It was a wonderful experience (being league chairman) and you have all been great, but particularly Hafiz Ur Rahman (league secretary) and Jonaid Khan (commercial secretary), and also Amir Majid (league president) and Mohammad Azad (vice-chairman). Also thanks to all the clubs.”

Dr Hameed added: “I promised a revamp three years ago and we did it. League roles were defined and minutes were available online for the first time in the league’s history.”

He went on to explain the importance of things such as social media, digitalisation, captains’ forms, umpires’ forms, umpires’ workshops, branded league clothing, fines charts and that all of the cup finals were played in coloured clothing and all were played on Saturdays.

Dr Hameed continued on first-time achievements: “We have been in profit for three successive years; we have had our assets, such as cups, valued; we have attracted commercial sponsorship; we had a kit launch at Park Avenue; we had a T20 kit launch at Headingley; and all three cup finals were sponsored.”

He added: “(Negative) messages have disappeared, which I see as a challenge overcome, and I, as a member of Yorkshire Friends, have had no self interest in any matters, and have also attended 100 per cent of the league meetings.

“I have also attracted over £7,000 in sponsorship (via Rizues), and we have attracted support from two MPs, three deputy lord lieutenants of West Yorkshire and three members of the Yorkshire Cricket Board.

“I ave also played an active role in league rules and amendments and given hundreds of hours to the league, and it has all been worth it.

“I will remember the respect shown to me for the rest of my life.”

Ur Rahman added: “You made us believe that things could happen.”

Now that Dr Hameed is taking a well-earned rest - although some clubs wanted him to carry on, which would have been against league rules - there is no reason why the current members of the league’s executive committee will not carry on the good work of Dr Hameed and the retiring executive committee members.

And while league rules do not allow for executive committee members to stay in the same post, there is nothing to prevent them from taking up other roles within the committee.

Therefore Ur Rahman has moved over to become fixture secretary, while continuing his role as treasurer, which he took up earlier this year, while Jonaid Khan has moved from being commercial secretary to fill the big boots of Dr Hameed.

League president is Asif Azad, vice-chairman is Yasir Gull and umpires’ secretary continues to be Ijaz Khan.

Waheed Butt is league secretary, while Ibrar Hussaain is commercial secretary.

Dr Hameed was made a life vice-president of the league.