ICC Suspends Cricket Canada Funding Amid Fraud and Fixing Probes
A Significant Blow to Canadian Cricket
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken decisive action against Cricket Canada, announcing a six-month suspension of all financial distributions to the Associate Member. This move comes as the governing body addresses a series of grave governance failures that have cast a shadow over the sport in the nation. While the ICC has clarified that the funding freeze will not immediately halt high-performance programmes or active cricket matches, the long-term impact on a board so heavily reliant on global support remains a major concern for the sport’s development in North America.
Joining a Troubling Global Trend
Cricket Canada is not the first organization to face such scrutiny. The global cricket landscape has seen several boards struggle with integrity and governance issues in recent years. USA Cricket, for instance, faced a membership suspension in late 2025 due to persistent constitutional breaches and stagnant relations with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Similarly, Sri Lanka Cricket dealt with a full suspension in 2023 caused by government interference, while Zimbabwe Cricket has historically navigated similar political sanctions. These cases underscore the ICC’s growing intolerance for administrative dysfunction that threatens the integrity of international cricket.
The Staggering Financial Dependence
The severity of this punishment is underscored by Cricket Canada’s financial structure. According to official reports for the 2024 fiscal year, the board generated CAD $5.7 million in total income, with a massive 63%—approximately CAD $3.6 million—derived directly from the ICC. For an organization lacking the diverse commercial revenue streams of a Full Member nation, this sudden cessation of funding creates a precarious environment. This financial vulnerability could severely hinder the board’s ability to maintain operations, grow grassroots programs, and sustain the professional standards expected at the international level.
Uncovering the Dysfunction
The catalyst for the ICC’s intervention involves a series of disturbing reports regarding internal management. Investigative scrutiny, including reports by the documentary programme the fifth estate, has highlighted significant lapses in financial oversight and policy adherence. A focal point of this instability was the tenure of former CEO Salman Khan. Khan, who is currently facing charges of theft and fraud brought by the Calgary Police—charges he has denied—was appointed despite failing to disclose prior criminal history. His eventual removal became a symbol of the board’s lack of due diligence.
Perhaps more damaging are the allegations of match-fixing. A leaked audio recording allegedly featured former coach Khurram Chohan claiming that board members pressured him to favor specific players in national team selections. The same audio contained serious allegations regarding potential match-fixing, leading the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to open an active investigation. Furthermore, Canada’s T20 World Cup match against New Zealand has been brought into the scope of the ACU’s integrity inquiry, placing the entire Canadian cricket administration under intense global surveillance.
Too Little, Too Late?
The suspension was announced in the immediate aftermath of Cricket Canada’s annual general meeting held on May 9 and 10. During this event, the board attempted to signal a fresh start by electing a new nine-person board of directors and confirming Arvinder Khosa as the new president, replacing Amjad Bajwa. The board touted these changes as part of an “ongoing governance transformation initiative.” However, the swiftness with which the ICC issued the funding suspension following these elections suggests that the global governing body remains unconvinced that these superficial changes are sufficient to address the deep-rooted cultural and systemic issues within Cricket Canada. As the six-month clock begins, the cricketing world watches closely to see if the board can implement the structural integrity required to regain the trust—and the funding—of the international community.
