International Cricket Council suspends Cricket Canada’s membership

Cricket’s world governing body has suspended Cricket Canada’s membership “due to serious breaches of its membership obligations.”

Canadian teams will still be eligible to compete during the suspension, however.

The decision was made by the International Cricket Council’s board on Sunday in Ahmedabad, India.

Cricket Canada said its current leadership was not to blame for the situation.

“The irregularities identified by the ICC stem from actions and systemic weaknesses under previous boards and management,” Cricket Canada said in a statement. “The newly elected board and current management team are fully committed to rectifying these issues and are implementing comprehensive governance, financial control, and administrative reforms at the earliest possible opportunity.”

While the ICC did not specify the nature of the breaches, Cricket Canada has had to deal with leadership turmoil, lawsuits and a damning portrayal in a recent episode of the CBC’s The Fifth Estate.

The ICC confirmed that its anti-corruption unit was investigating allegations raised in the April program titled “Corruption, Crime and Cricket.”

“The ACU is aware of the program broadcast by CBC,” Andrew Ephgrave, interim general manager of the ICC’s integrity unit, told The Associated Press in a statement at the time. “Consistent with its established operating procedures, the ACU is not in a position to comment on the substance of any allegations contained within it.”

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The documentary also included other allegations of corruption within Cricket Canada. Former Canada coach Pubudu Dassanayake alleged there was undue influence on the team selection process during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

In a statement on the eve of The Fifth Estate show airing, Cricket Canada said it would review its allegations.

“Recent (CBC) promotional material alludes to allegations related to organized crime and match-fixing – issues that Cricket Canada takes extremely seriously,” the statement said. “The integrity of the sport is fundamental, and any concern that could compromise fair competition is treated with the utmost importance.”

The statement also noted Cricket Canada had recently undergone leadership changes, including the election of a new president and secretary.

The ICC said Canadian teams will continue to be eligible to compete, saying its board “was mindful of the importance of protecting the interests of Canadian players and ensuring they are not disadvantaged by the governance issues affecting the national governing body.”

“To support the continued participation and development of the national teams, Cricket Canada will be permitted to access ICC funding through a controlled funding mechanism, under the oversight of ICC management, solely for approved national team program,” the ICC added in its statement Monday.

According to the latest financial statement on the Cricket Canada website, the organization reported total revenue of $3,176,869 for the year ending Dec. 31, 2023. Of that, $1,393,783 came from the ICC.

The world governing body says it will provide Cricket Canada with “a set of reinstatement conditions aimed at addressing the governance and administrative issues identified by the board.

“The progress against these conditions will be monitored by the ICC Normalization Committee, supported by ICC management, with reinstatement of membership subject to the board being satisfied that the conditions have been fully met.”

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Cricket Canada says it has undertaken “immediate, comprehensive, and structured corrective measures to remedy the governance, financial oversight, and administrative deficiencies identified” by the ICC.

They include a detailed “corrective and preventative action plan.”

Lawyer Dasha Peregoudova, a former Pan American Games taekwondo champion, is chairing a four-person “independent jurist-led committee” that has been given unrestricted access to all financial records, authority to interview personnel, and the mandate to deliver a full report within 45 days, according to Cricket Canada.

“The suspension was unexpected, as the Jurist Led Committee has already commenced its work and is scheduled to deliver interim recommendations within two weeks,” Cricket Canada COO Bhavjit Jauhar said in the statement. “Nevertheless, Cricket Canada respects the ICC’s decision and is fully committed to meeting all compliance requirements.”

Cricket Canada has been plagued with problems in recent months.

In March, 2025, then-Cricket Canada CEO Salman Khan and another man were charged with theft and fraud over $5,000 arising from their time with the Calgary and District Cricket League.

Khan, in a social-media post via the Alberta Cricket Association, called the allegations “completely false.”

Cricket Canada suspended Khan in October, albeit with full pay, before firing him in December.

Another legal case saw B.C.’s West Coast Cricket Organization and three other provincial cricket groups allege Cricket Canada broke its own constitution and bylaws.

In March, a B.C. Supreme Court judge ordered Cricket Canada to hold a special general meeting with an independent arbitrator, as requested by the petitioners.

Justice David Crerar called the dispute “acrimonious, contentious and complex” and said it was “driven by egos,” the Vancouver Sun reported.

He also ordered Cricket Canada to end its suspension of the Alberta Cricket Association.

Cricket Canada is an associate member of the ICC.

The Canadian men are currently ranked 20th in both one-day international and T20 play. Canada’s women are 32nd in T20 play.

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