WHEN president of the Canadian Cricket Association, Banikwari Lal (Ben) Sennik, heard that the Bermuda Government was pumping a massive $11 million into the national cricket team he was stunned.

And probably a bit jealous.

"We were gasping when we heard that ? I wish we could have just a little bit of that (money)," said the CCA chief this week in an interview with .

"It is amazing ? absolutely fabulous. I think it is magnificent of the Bermuda Government to do that. This will help the team and the evolution of the game in Bermuda. It is a lot of money. Our budget is a lot less. We have applied to the (Canadian) Federal Government for funding and we are eligible. In fact we should have applied years ago. Hopefully some help will be coming but no way close to what you have been given. That is a huge sum of money."

Sennik is a businessman who emigrated from Kenya a quarter of the century ago and now that he is president of the CCA he wants to see the game take a very professional approach.

That professional approach is essential if Canada are going to continue to develop as a cricketing nation. "We're aiming for the next stage ? a Test team. That is our ultimate goal. We feel we want to develop ourselves, get more experience and move on to the next step and hopefully in eight to 10 years we will be a Test playing nation." said Sennik.

And in order to get to a Test playing plateau, Sennik realises that the players must become professional.

"I don't see any other way," he said. "We have to go up progressively. Our bread earners on the team are neither amateurs or professionals. We are looking at the (pro) possibility as soon as a financial base has been established. We have to get salaried players. To get to the objectives we want we have to have professional players. The first thing we have to do is set up a strong financial base. I come from a business background and I feel we have to run the game like a business. There is no other way. There are no short cuts. There is only one choice for us. We have to think how do we give the security the players need so their minds are on the game."

Sennik said the game in Canada is making strides. "A lot of good things are happening right now. There have been new players coming up and that is helping us. We have some new players and they will be out in Trinidad. They have played in New Zealand and Australia and we also have our own youngsters coming through here in Canada."

And Sennik said that cricket was the "fastest growing sport in Canada".

He added: "Actually cricket was originally the national sport in Canada in the 1800s. The game has a great history in Canada. It had its low period over the years but in the last five years we have seen a huge upsurge in popularity. It is being played in the schools."

Originally the game came from those who emigrated to Canada from the United Kingdom. But Canada has for years seen many people from the Indian subcontinent arrive and their children have take up the cause.

"Cricket not a brand name yet ? not like (ice) hockey," said Sennik adding that they are always trying to get more sponsorship. "Businesses like the big banks want to see returns as well. But the (cricket) community is growing and becoming more influential. I think gradually we will get there."

One thing that Sennik is very happy about is the appointment of Canada's new national cricket coach Andy Pick who is taking a year-long sabbatical from his post with the England and Wales Cricket Board to coach the country in the build-up to the 2007 World Cup.

"We have an excellent coach. I am very impressed with him. He took over about two weeks ago and the changes he is bringing about are amazing. He was England's Under-19 World Cup coach and he did very well. I wouldn't be surprised to see him become England's national coach in a few years."

Pick recently guided England to the semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka and has impressed the Canadian officials with his desire to improve the standard of Canadian cricket.

"We believe he will be a great mentor to our players, especially the younger ones, he will earn respect very quickly, he has a great technical understanding of the game and he believes in a disciplined approach. His work with the England Under-19 squad also means he is someone who should be well-suited to working with us. The players he coached there were all looking to make the next step and we are at that level too," said Sennik.

Pick was chosen for the role after a selection process that involved more than 40 applicants including two former ICC Full Member coaches and several former Test players.

The position is funded through grants provided to Associate Member qualifiers for the World Cup and managed through the ICC's High Performance Program.

ICC High Performance Manager Richard Done was one member of an initial six-person selection panel and he said: "In Andy Pick, Canada now has a coach whose credentials have been recognised by one of the leading Test nations.

"He has a wealth of playing and coaching experience and that will be a critical factor in lifting Canada's performance as they head towards their second appearance at a World Cup."

Pick said after being chosen: "The chance to coach a side in a World Cup is a real incentive and that is a big part of the side's calendar but there are other things to consider either side of that. I hope to bring professionalism to the role but on top of that there are plenty of other things I can offer thanks to my time at the ECB.

"I have been there at a time when English cricket has gone from strength to strength and I have seen how that has happened.

"My job will be to sift through the reasons for that success ? things such as fitness, sports psychology and different practice techniques, for example ? and see what can be used in the Canadian context."