Canadian cricket player given protection while skipper investigated

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It appears Cricket Canada has leaped from the frying pan into the fire.

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After Amjad Bajwa’s catastrophic run at the helm of the association, it appears his successor Arvinder Khosa is not much better.

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In the CBC’s fifth estate documentary Corruption, Crime and Cricket Canada the national body came under fire for allegations of spot-fixing, corruption and claims of death threats.

Most of these allegations were exposed in the Toronto Sun during the past year with the exception of the match-fixing exposed by the International Cricket Conference anti-corruption unit.

The special unit has opened an investigation into Dilpreet Bajwa — no relation to the ex-president — who was installed as captain for the World Twenty20 Cup a few days prior to the start of the tournament. It was a move that shook the Canadian cricket community.

Now, the Sun can reveal that one member of the World Cup squad was given additional security during the tournament. The player, who has just returned home after staying back for a few weeks, was hesitant to be interviewed.

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Following that harrowing stay during the global event, he said: “I would like to enjoy a few days with my wife and children before I can talk to you.”

This revelation is nothing but scary and repulsive, to say the least.

Why did the player need protection?

The player approached the authorities for protection when the squad arrived for training in Sri Lanka for the competition as he “felt unsafe.” The authorities assured him of his safety for the duration of the tournament.

But Canada made headlines for all the wrong reasons with Bajwa put on the carpet for match-fixing, one of three incidents at the tournament the ICC is examining.

Bajwa’s elevation to skipper came as an utter shock as the team was to have been led by Nicholas Kirton. In January at a farewell reception hosted at the Brampton City Hall before the squad’s departure, national coach Ingleton Liburd introduced Kirton as captain.

I was at the ceremony that was attended by some 100 fans and Kirton’s demotion came out of the blue, but that should not come as a surprise as Cricket Canada has pulled off such stunners in the past.

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In 2024 at the World Twenty20 Cup in the U.S., the parent body usurped the powers of coach Pubudu Dassanayake by parachuting players who weren’t even on the national squad.

Dassanayake was horrified, but he was cautioned that they would be played or his job was on the line. Dassanayake, who is now head coach with the U.S. was fired on his return home and he in turn sued Cricket Canada for wrongful dismissal. The court hasn’t delivered its ruling as yet.

At the Brampton press conference, I asked if the team would be free from any interference from the board as happened two years before. There were some gasps from the crowd and the cricket officials who feigned ignorance as to what happened in 2024.

Of course, nothing like that would happen I was told.

Really? Enter Bajwa.

The documentary suggests that Khosa was behind his elevation to captaincy.

“I cannot believe that the documentary involved me in Bajwa’s promotion,” Khosa said. “I was not even in Cricket Canada at the time and had no say in the matter.”

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New Cricket Canada boss faces uphill task of clearing half-million in legal fees

Canada and U.S. cricket parent bodies on the outside looking in after troubling off-field issues

But as president of B.C. Cricket, Khosa’s name has been tarnished as insiders say he was the main proponent behind Bajwa’s promotion. It mentioned that Khosa pushed Bajwa for the B.C. captain’s post even though the province already had chosen another player.

Match-fixing probe

The investigation into Bajwa focused on a preliminary-round match versus New Zealand. Bajwa is a spinner, but doesn’t normally bowl. On this occasion, however, he brought himself on in the fifth over.

He started off with a no-ball, followed by a wide. The no-ball sent alarms ringing since a spinner — even an amateur — could in no way bowl a no-ball the way he did. Bajwa conceded 15 runs.

That wasn’t all as some of his decisions during the matches had fans and his own teammates shaking their heads in disbelief.

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The following day, Bajwa did not attend a team meeting and there was no comment from team manager Prem Persaud.

We now have to wait for a decision on Bajwa from Andrew Ephgrave, the interim general manager of ICC’s anti-corruption unit. But don’t hold your breath as the ICC has in the past been as incompetent as Cricket Canada.

Past allegations over Cricket Canada’s hiring of a CEO who has been charged for theft has gone unanswered. Last May, former national coach Khurram Chohan had a recording alleging three members of the board were involved in gambling in a match involving their own players.

Until now there has been no action even though ICC had its own Americas Regional Development Manager Fara Gorsi pursuing the matter. But she has also gone into a deep slumber.

Hopefully, Khosa can shake off all these allegations and put Canada on the right path as he has promised.

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis.

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