Mark Azeez
1072 N Wilton Pl; Los Angeles, CA 90038
Tel: 1 (323) 533 9969 Email: mandmautoctr@yahoo.com
My cricket career began at age 13 while attending High school in Guyana. I relocated to California, USA at age 21 in 1969.
1970
Wicket keeping duties and opening batter, Hollywood CC. Historically, Hollywood CC is recognized as one of the earliest cricket club in the USA. A club that was home to the Expatriate British Movie stars.
1975
Participated as one of a group of roaming cricket pioneers, playing cricket matches in a 500 miles radius from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Francisco at the northern most end of California.
1980
Administrative involvement and contributions began earnestly. I was elected treasurer of the newly formed Association of Cricket Umpires of Southern California (ACUSC). I served in this position for 4 years.
1990 – 1995
- Elected Vice President of Hollywood CC, and captain of the 2nd
- Worked with others to promote cricket match between Hollywood actors and Virgin Airline celebrating the inauguration flight to Los Angeles.
- Awarded Lifetime membership and inducted into Hall of Fame of Hollywood CC.
- I initiated and founded the Hollywood Golden Oldies Cricket Club. Tour matches arranged in England, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Fiji, Costa Rica, and El Salvador.
- Assisted with the formation of the Los Angeles KRICKETS, a team comprising members of the Los Angeles Homeless Communities. Funds were raised to take the team on a 5-match tour of England.
- Arranged demonstration of the sport of cricket, with the assistance of the KRICKETS team, to a Mormon community in Utah.
- Organized friendly cricket match between the ICC World Champions, Sri Lanka, and the Los Angeles KRICKETS team.
- During the gang related violence, I worked with a group to introduce cricket to the deprived community with the aim to socializing and controlling behaviors of the rival gangs. Our efforts promoted peaceful interactions within the community.
1996 – 1999
- I volunteered and assisted with coaching and introduction of cricket in Los Angeles School, working with Dr. Tony Verity, Cricket Hall of Famers Leo Magnus, and David Sentance.
- I worked with others to organize fundraising drives to benefit and promote cricket in Los Angeles low-income communities.
- I worked with an organizing group to promote an Australian “A” v. India “A” international cricket match at Woodley Park, California.
- Working with others, I promoted a cricket match between a Jamaica IX, featuring former Test Cricketer, Jimmy Adams and former Jamaican National team player, Hopeton Barret. The home team was a California Select IX.
- Promoted a Memorial cricket match involving former test cricketers Roy Fredericks, Lance Gibbs and S. Shivnarine at a Los Angles venue, the match was attended by a crowd of 10,000.
2015 – 2023
- Accepted administrative role as chairman and senior umpire, mentoring, coaching and scheduling of umpires.
- I accepted an award from the Southern California Cricket Association Cricket Hall of Fame, in recognition of my contributions to cricket.
- Arranged during a 3-year cyclical period, the annual Bhakta T20 cricket tournament, a five-day series involving 40 teams.
2025
Working with others, I organized, demonstrated and introduced cricket to a local California Latin Festival, in Los Angeles.