ICC to probe Canada Cricket’s decision to hire CEO charged with theft and fraud

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It took a long time coming, but the body that governs cricket finally has risen from its long slumber and decided to put Cricket Canada on the carpet.

Beleaguered Cricket Canada has staggered from one corner of the ring to the other after taking multiple shots in recent months and this move by the International Cricket Council has been welcomed in many quarters of this country.

The ICC has written to the Canadian body demanding an explanation as to how Salman Khan was promoted to CEO just weeks before he was charged with theft and fraud by Calgary Police. It’s regarding assets that went missing from the Calgary & District Cricket League between 2014 and 2016, and Khan was charged along with the former league treasurer Syed Wajahat Ali for funds involving $200,000.

According to Cricbuzz, which has accessed the letter, the ICC wants “a full account of the recruitment process, confirmation of whether directors were told of the allegations before Khan’s appointment, the exact date the board first learned of the investigation, and details of any governance or disciplinary action already taken.”

It noted the seriousness of the charges levelled against the CEO, particularly relating to his conduct as a cricket administrator.

Amjad Bajwa, president of Cricket Canada, confirmed he is in possession of the letter and his association is “sitting down with our lawyers to provide the ICC with a response.”

Bajwa added his association will not ask Khan to step down despite the probe by the ICC.

“We all know about the charges brought against Khan but he has not been found guilty. If he is found guilty of the offenses, we will let him go. Until then he stays,” a defiant Bajwa said.

Khan was elected as a board director of the national body in June 2023 and he apparently was allowed to cut short his honorary two-year term and elevate himself to CEO, which is a salaried position.

According to several local administrators, Khan assumed the higher position to escape a clause that says that any director charged with a crime must resign.

According to Cricbuzz, Khan negotiated a five-year contract that contains a ‘no at-will termination’ clause, an unusually protective arrangement that could leave Cricket Canada liable for the full payout if it removes him early.

It will be interesting to see what action ICC will take once it receives Cricket Canada’s reply. The heaviest penalty ICC can impose is to cut off its annual funding that amounts to roughly $1 million US and that essentially would freeze salaries for national team players.

Canada’s top players receive around $80,000 thanks to the ICC handout and the supplemental funds earned from competing in the now-defunct Global T20 League.

Cricket Canada cut off all ties with Bombay Sports Limited, the parent body of Global T20 League based in Mumbai, at the end of last year for being late with its financial obligations although CC has been paid in full, but the vendors are still waiting to be remunerated.

Cricket Canada has been facing severe headwinds in recent months with a few provincial associations and players expressing their concerns over how the game is being administered in the country.

But Bajwa, who has come under increasing fire for his handling of the game, says most of the problems have been fanned by former officials of the parent body “who are making life difficult for us since I took over as president more than a year ago.”

There has been a spate of complaints at the provincial and international levels. One that shook the national squad was the firing of renowned coach Pubudu Dassanayake, who guided Canada to the 2024 World Twenty20 Cup and also nailing a spot in the 2027 World Cup (50 overs).

At the T20 World Cup, Canada shocked Test nation Ireland and put on gallant efforts versus eventual champion India, Pakistan and the United States. Dassanayake has sued CC for wrongful dismissal and this case is expected to be resolved in June.

Dassanayake added the squad would have done much better had there not been any interference from the board, who insisted on the composition of the team instead of letting him do his job.

Canada’s international players can breathe a sigh of relief as far as their salaries are concerned as the parent body has signed deals to host two international tournaments.

The T10 will be played at the CAA venue in Brampton in July while the GT20 League will also be played at the same venue in August. Both leagues have attracted some of the world’s finest cricketers.

“We are excited to have d found a partner in the National Cricket League that shares our vision for the future of cricket in Canada,” Bajwa said.

While the T10 league has been given the greenlight by the ICC, Bajwa said that he is will waiting to hear from the governing body regarding the GT20 tournament, but expects a positive answer in the next few days.

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