Canada gets new partner after Global T20 owner banned after trying to fix matches
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There has been intrigue and lots of action on and off the field, but what goes on behind those boundary lines has captured the headlines.
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Canada gets new partner after Global T20 owner banned after trying to fix matches Back to video
The game has been slammed for sixes in recent months with the CEO of Canada Cricket Salman Khan being charged with theft and fraud by Calgary Police for misappropriating “approximately $200,000 from the Calgary District League.”
Then it was the turn of Canada skipper Nicholas Kirton to add more spice to the proceedings after being charged by authorities in Barbados for being in possession of 20 pounds of cannabis. He was released on bail and will appear in a Barbados court in June.
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If that wasn’t bad enough, Gurmeet Singh Bhamra, owner of the popular Global T20 League that has taken local fans by storm, has been banned for “between five years and life” over allegations of attempting to fix a league match in India.
Bhamra started the GT20 League in 2018 and it became an instant hit as he signed some of the game’s greatest stars, including Chris Gayle of the West Indies and Australians Steve Smith and David Warner. But Bhamra has been no-balled by a Board of Cricket Council of India ombudsman Justice (Retd.) Arun Mishra and banned for approaching a couple of players to fix a match.
The co-owner of the SoBo Supersonics approached Mumbai players Dhawal Kulkarni and Bhavin Thakkar during the 2019 edition of the Mumbai T20 League — which is being revived this year after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The court revealed that a person named Sonu Vasan approached Thakkar to fix matches on behalf of Bhamra. The transcript shows Vasan offered money and benefits to Thakkar and assured him that any decision he made would be communicated to Bhamra.
Kulkarni, a medium pacer who represented India in a 12 ODIs and a couple of T20 Internationals, also was offered money and other benefits.
Cricket Canada has been facing severe headwinds in recent months with a few provincial associations expressing their concerns over how the game is being administered in the country.
Cricket Canada president Amjad Bajwa has come under increasing fire for his handling of the game with complaints from international players as well. Then there was his decision to fire head coach Pubudu Dassanayake with the former coach suing Cricket Canada for wrongful dismissal in a case that is expected to be resolved by June.
But there is a silver lining in the sky for Canada’s international players and those who were left high and dry financially after the national body announced the termination of their contract with Gurmeet Singh and his Bombay Sports Limited is that a new deal has been signed for the league to continue under new owners.
Bajwa said all the Canadian and international players who played here in 2024 were fully paid, but the “only problem is that the vendors are owed thousands of dollars.”
Cricket Canada has inked a deal with the National Cricket League that operates in the U.S. to run the GT20 League starting in August at the CAA Stadium in Brampton. The T10 that will be played at the same venue in July also has attracted some of the best players from around the globe.
“We are excited to have found a partner in the National Cricket League that shares our vision for the future of cricket in Canada,” Bajwa said. “With the NCL’s expertise and commitment, we are confident that GT20 will continue to grow and bring the game to new heights in Canada.”
Jack Matthews, co-owner of NCL and a visionary in global sports investments, also expressed his excitement about the partnership: “Canada has the talent, the passion and the fan base to be a powerhouse in world cricket.”
Arun Agarwal, chairman of NCL Canada/North America, was thrilled he could add Canada to his burgeoning group. The NCL had a hugely successful initial season that played to packed houses in the U.S. with former reputable players on board as advisers, including India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, and Wasim Ajram of Pakistan.
Interest in the Canada T10 took the organizers by surprise as 1,135 men registered while 235 women players from 34 countries also forwarded their names to play in this exciting format. Among the celebrated men figures include Finn Allen, Sikandar Raza, Naseem Shah, Alex Hales, Shamar Joseph, Jason Roy and Keshav Maharaj.
Meanwhile, Canada’s national squad, playing without skipper Kirton, opened its inaugural North Americas Cup by thrashing Bermuda by five wickets on the weekend. Bermuda made 105 for eight and Canada replied with 108 for five with 11 balls to spare.
The star for Canada was fast bowler Kaleem Sana Rehman, who grabbed four wickets for 17 runs. Canada opened the tournament by annihilating Bahamas in the opener by 10 wickets. Saad Bin Zafar grabbed three for 11 to skittle Bahamas for 41 and Canada reached its target off four overs.
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