The International Cricket Council has suspended funding to Cricket Canada for six months over governance-related concerns, ESPNcricinfo has reported. Cricket Canada was informed by the global governing body earlier this week.
ICC distributions accounted for 63% of Cricket Canada’s total income in 2024, or CAD$3.6 million out of CAD$5.7 million in revenue, according to its annual financial statement. The freeze will not directly affect cricket activities or high performance programmes, but represents a heavy blow for the Associate Member’s operating finances.
The funding decision came immediately after Cricket Canada’s annual general meeting on May 9-10, at which the board announced reforms it described as part of its “ongoing governance transformation initiative” and elected a new nine-person board with Arvinder Khosa confirmed as president after an interim stint.
Canada’s cricket administration has been under sustained scrutiny. The Canada vs New Zealand fixture from the recent T20 World Cup is the subject of an ICC anti-corruption probe. A separate Anti-Corruption Unit investigation stems from a leaked recording of then-coach Khuram Chohan alleging that senior board members had pressured him over player selection and containing claims of attempts to corrupt matches.
The appointment and subsequent removal of former CEO Salman Khan also drew ICC attention after he failed to disclose prior criminal charges; he has since been charged with theft and fraud by Calgary Police and has denied the claims.
Canadian investigative programme the fifth estate reported “breaches of ICC policies, including concerns over Cricket Canada’s governance and lack of financial oversight.” In a statement to the programme, Cricket Canada media manager Jimmy Sharma said the current board “has inherited these issues and is fully committed to resolving all governance, compliance, and financial control deficiencies.”
ICC interim anti-integrity unit head Andrew Ephgrave said last month that governance matters concerning ICC Members fall under the ICC’s standard constitutional processes.
The suspension lands as the ICC also engages with Sri Lanka Cricket on its own governance overhaul, with an ICC and BCCI delegation visiting Colombo this week.
