21 February 2012

The Club Cricket Conference has appointed a manager to help drive forward the biggest changes in its history.

He is Gulfraz Riaz, who becomes interim development manager on 13 March and takes day-to-day charge of CCC operations and future plans.

Mr Riaz, 40, is a longstanding member of Watford Town CC, where he is a past club captain and the founder of the junior section, which now puts out 12 teams. A level two coach and a former player for Hertfordshire U19s, he has made significant contributions to recent community-wide cricket initiatives in Watford and South Hertfordshire. His career has been in retail banking and in lettings management.

Its chair, Alf Langley, said: 'Gulfraz has all the qualifications and enthusiasm to fulfil the role at this most sensitive period in the CCC's progress.'

Mr Riaz's position is for 12 months while future staffing needs become clear under planned changes.