Cricket Canada finds itself in the eye of a storm once again, with serious allegations of illegal betting, match, and spot-fixing involving the national team now under investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ICC's anti-corruption unit has been forced into action after receiving a recorded tape from a Cricket Canada member detailing these alleged activities. The member, who admitted forwarding the damning recording directly to the ICC in England, was subsequently fired by Cricket Canada for not sharing the tape with the national body first.
This 58-minute, 47-second recording, exclusively shared with Postmedia and deciphered by a translator, is conducted in Punjabi. It reportedly points fingers at how interim national coach Khurum Rashid Chohan was instructed by three board members regarding team selection. The allegations suggest that bookmakers, purportedly based in Pakistan or India, relayed classified information to these board members, who were allegedly involved in placing bets.
The recording is said to include a strong objection from Chohan to a bowler being dropped despite a "green top" wicket. Chohan's apparent defiance seemingly cost him his job, as he was fired upon the squad's return from World Cup qualifiers in the U.S. Ingleton Liburd, a former Canadian international all-rounder and long-serving general manager, has replaced him. When contacted, Chohan confirmed he was relieved of his duties but calls for further comment went unanswered.
This incident is not isolated. Cricket Canada has been on the ICC's radar for over a year, particularly after the appointment of Salman Khan as CEO, despite his past charges in Calgary relating to theft and fraud. The organisation's stability has been on a "slippery slope" since last year's World Twenty20 Cup, where then-coach Pubudu Dassanayake also complained bitterly of board interference. Dassanayake claimed his team's potential to reach the second round was hampered by five unselected players being imposed upon him at the last minute.
Further compounding Cricket Canada's woes, skipper Nicholas Kirton was arrested two months ago in Barbados for alleged possession of "20 pounds of cannabis," though he has since been released on bail. Despite his pending case, Kirton has been re-appointed captain for the upcoming four-country World Twenty20 Cup qualifier at King City next week, involving Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas, and Cayman Islands. Navneet Dhaliwal had briefly taken the captaincy in Kirton's absence for the series in the U.S., but has now been replaced.
With these multiple controversies swirling, the ICC is expected to have its "hands full" as it seeks to uphold the integrity of the sport, particularly as the winner of this qualifying group will earn a spot in the 2026 World Twenty20 Cup. However, despite the gravity of the allegations, there is a prevailing sentiment that Canada, as a host nation and key player in the Americas region, may not face severe penalties in the short term, allowing the tournament to proceed as planned.
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