The Anti-Corruption Unit of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is currently investigating allegations of corruption within Cricket Canada. This inquiry includes claims related to an alleged spot-fixing incident during Canada’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against New Zealand. Sources within the ICC indicate that there are two concurrent investigations focusing on both international and domestic matches.
On Friday, a documentary titled ‘Corruption, Crime and Cricket’ was broadcast by CBC’s The Fifth Estate, which made various serious allegations against Cricket Canada concerning issues of governance, team selection, and match conduct at both levels. A shocking claim within the documentary suggested involvement from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in these matters.
An anonymous source, whose identity has been concealed for safety reasons, alleged that this gang threatened a well-known Canadian player and influenced Cricket Canada’s decision to appoint 22-year-old Dilpreet Bajwa as captain just before the T20 World Cup. This last-minute change reportedly surprised the team’s coach, manager, and other players, occurring when the team arrived in Sri Lanka for their pre-tournament preparations following a send-off event in Brampton, where Nicholas Kirton, a long-serving player, was expected to lead the team.
The documentary specifically highlighted the match against New Zealand in Chennai, noting that during the fifth over of New Zealand’s innings, Bajwa, normally a key batsman, opted to bowl after Canada’s opening bowlers had secured two early wickets in pursuit of a target of 174 runs. His over started with a no-ball and included a wide delivery, yielding 15 runs. Following the game, Bajwa reportedly skipped a team meeting and was instead approached by the ICC’s ACU, which confiscated his mobile phone for investigation. The ICC has stated that details about this ongoing inquiry cannot be disclosed as it remains active.
Evidence of potential corruption appeared prior to Canada’s inaugural match against South Africa in Ahmedabad, as the documentary revealed a text message from an individual named ‘Pintu’, believed to be connected to the betting sector. The message allegedly stated, “Our source in the betting world informed us that a script is available for the Canada match, including players we can bet on before the match.”
The ICC’s ACU had previously been alerted to possible corrupt practices. In May 2025, a recorded phone conversation surfaced in which former coach Khurram Chohan claimed that Cricket Canada board members pressured him to select specific players for the national team. In this audio, Chohan expressed his disbelief at being asked to manipulate match outcomes, stating, “They asked me to fix the match…they said they will arrange the team and ‘you will make them play.’” He also recounted an incident involving instructions regarding the batting order for a match against Bermuda, which he chose not to follow, resulting in a victory for Canada. After the game, he received a call from then-CEO Salman Khan, who expressed anger over Chohan’s disregard for the prescribed order. This match is now also part of the ICC’s ongoing investigations.
Furthermore, former Sri Lankan player Pubudu Dassanayake, who coached Canada prior to Chohan, alleged in the documentary that Cricket Canada officials attempted to coerce him into making specific selections ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. When he refused, he faced threats of termination. Dassanayake is now pursuing legal action against Cricket Canada for wrongful dismissal.
Concerning the alleged involvement of the Bishnoi gang, another unnamed individual involved in Canadian cricket disclosed an incident where a national player was threatened in a restaurant. According to this source, aggressive individuals confronted the player, insisting he step outside and warning him that failure to support two specific teammates would lead to consequences linked to Lawrence Bishnoi. The player in question was identified as Bajwa.
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