[CRK]

The Shadows Over Canadian Cricket: ICC Launches Corruption Probe

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially stepped in to investigate serious allegations of corruption involving Cricket Canada. The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is currently conducting two active investigations that span various elements of the organization, including a specific match from the recent men’s T20 World Cup hosted in India and Sri Lanka.

These revelations came to light following the release of a detailed 43-minute documentary titled ‘Corruption, Crime and Cricket’, produced by the fifth estate and aired by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The film makes sweeping accusations regarding the governance of Cricket Canada and the systemic corruption within the national body.

Suspicious Activity at the T20 World Cup

One of the primary focuses of the ACU investigation is Canada’s encounter against New Zealand during the T20 World Cup. The documentary highlights a specific moment of suspicion: the fifth over of New Zealand’s chase. At that point, New Zealand were 35 for 2, and the captain, Dilpreet Bajwa, came on to bowl.

Bajwa, who was only 22 at the time and had been appointed captain just three weeks before the tournament began, is primarily a batting all-rounder who bowls offspin. The over in question is under scrutiny because of the delivery’s quality and results. Bajwa began the over with a no-ball, followed by a wide down the leg side, and ultimately conceded 15 runs in that single over. This sequence of events has raised red flags for the ACU investigators.

Allegations of Selection Pressure and Match Fixing

The second investigation stems from a leaked recording of a telephone call involving former Canada coach Khurram Chohan. In the recording, Chohan claims that senior members of the Cricket Canada board exerted undue pressure on him to select specific players for the national side. While the audio also contains mentions of attempts to fix matches, the ICC has noted that corroborating these claims with actionable evidence remains a challenge.

Further compounding these issues, former coach Pubudu Dassanayake also spoke in the documentary, claiming he faced similar pressure regarding squad selections for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Dassanayake alleges that the board tried to force him to select certain players, and when he refused, he was threatened with the termination of his contract. Dassanayake is currently suing Cricket Canada for wrongful dismissal.

Administrative Chaos and Legal Troubles

The governance of Cricket Canada has been a disaster over the past year. The organization has faced significant administrative turmoil, most notably regarding the appointment and removal of former CEO Salman Khan. Khan’s appointment had already drawn ICC attention because he failed to disclose prior criminal charges. He has since been charged with theft and fraud by the Calgary Police, although he denies these claims.

The documentary also paints a picture of financial instability and poor player treatment. It claims that players faced delayed payments of prize money from the 2024 T20 World Cup and that national players were left uncontracted from July 2025 (as per the documentary’s claim) and placed on small retainers for only four months leading up to the tournament.

The ICC’s Response and Organized Crime

Andrew Ephgrave, the interim General Manager of the ICC’s Integrity Unit, stated that the ACU is aware of the CBC program. While he cannot comment on the substance of of the allegations, he highlighted that the ACU’s core functions—intelligence, prevention, and investigation—are applied whenever the integrity of the sport is at risk.

Interestingly, the documentary also explored links to organized crime, including a former player’s claim that he was threatened. However, Andrew Ephgrave clarified that such matters fall beyond the ACU’s remit and are instead the responsibility of domestic law enforcement agencies.

In a sport where integrity is everything, the findings of these ICC investigations will be crucial in determining the path forward for Cricket Canada and the restoring the reputation of the game in North America.