The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended Cricket Canada’s funding for six months over governance-related concerns. The global governing body informed Cricket Canada about the funding freeze earlier this week.
Although the exact details on governance failures have not been disclosed, the Canadian investigative programme, The Fifth Estate, reported alleged “breaches of ICC policies, including concerns over Cricket Canada’s governance and lack of financial oversight.”
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ICC’s decision followed Cricket Canada’s annual general meeting (AGM) on May 9 and 10, where the board announced reforms as part of what they called “an ongoing governance transformation initiative”. It even elected a new nine-member board, with Arvinder Khosa elected as the president after his interim stint.
While the funding suspension is not expected to affect cricket operations, including high-performance programmes, it, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, threatens a key revenue stream for the organisation, which relies heavily on the ICC. Financial statements for 2024 showed ICC distributions accounted for 63% of Cricket Canada’s total income, contributing CAD $3.6 million of its CAD $5.7 million revenue.
Cricket Canada in rocky waters
The funding freeze comes amid a turbulent period for Cricket Canada, both on and off the field. Canada’s match against New Zealand at the latest T20 World Cup, which took place in Chennai, India, on February 17, remains under investigation by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) and Integrity Unit.
A separate ACU probe is also going on, examining allegations made by former Canada coach Khurram Chohan. Last year, a phone call was leaked in which Khurram claimed former senior board members pressured him to select certain players and alleged attempts to corrupt matches.
The governing body of cricket in Canada has also faced scrutiny over the appointment and subsequent removal of former CEO Salman Khan. His hiring reportedly drew the ICC’s attention after undisclosed prior criminal charges came to light. Salman has since been charged with theft and fraud by Calgary Police, allegations he denies.
