Cricket Canada is under intense scrutiny following a formal letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) demanding answers about the appointment of Chief Executive Salman Khan and the board’s new commercial partnership with the National Cricket League (NCL). The May 2 letter, obtained by Cricbuzz, raises serious concerns about governance failures and a lack of due diligence by Cricket Canada’s leadership.
Khan, who was promoted to CEO in January 2025, is currently facing theft and fraud charges filed by Calgary Police in March. The charges stem from allegations that Khan and a former league treasurer, Syed Wajahat Ali, misappropriated around CAD 200,000 from the Calgary & District Cricket League between 2014 and 2016. The ICC’s letter requests a full explanation of the recruitment process, clarification on when board members became aware of the investigation, and what actions—if any—have been taken in response.
Despite launching an internal investigation last month, Cricket Canada has yet to release any public findings. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing reports of his arrest as “completely false.” However, several provincial cricket administrators have stated that the case was widely discussed in cricket circles long before the charges were formally laid.
Adding to the controversy are the circumstances of Khan’s appointment. After being elected as a board director in June 2023, Khan resigned mid-term to accept the CEO position. This resignation has raised eyebrows, as board bylaws require directors facing criminal charges to step down. Sources say the CEO deal, negotiated by Board Chair Amjad Bajwa and Director Imran Rana, was finalized without disclosure to the full board and includes an unusual five-year contract with no at-will termination clause—potentially making any dismissal costly for the organization.
Further complicating matters, Cricket Canada recently announced a new GT20 Canada partnership with NCL, replacing a long-standing 25-year agreement with Bombay Sports. The decision is controversial, as the NCL was banned by the ICC in December 2024 from hosting sanctioned events due to repeated violations. According to multiple directors, the NCL deal was approved without full board review, and a competing proposal from the ICC-approved UAE-based ILT20 was never presented for evaluation.
Timeline of Key Events:
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June 2023: Salman Khan elected as a Cricket Canada director
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January 2025: Khan resigns from board and becomes CEO on a five-year, no-termination contract
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March 12, 2025: Khan and Ali charged by Calgary Police with theft and fraud
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March 13, 2025: Cricket Canada acknowledges charges and announces internal review
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April 14, 2025: Cricket Canada signs GT20 partnership with ICC-banned NCL
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May 2, 2025: ICC sends formal letter demanding accountability
Governance experts warn that if Cricket Canada fails to adequately respond within 14 days, the ICC could impose penalties ranging from funding freezes to direct administrative oversight. The outcome will depend on whether the board can prove it acted transparently and in line with ICC governance standards.
As of publication, Khan, Bajwa, and Rana had not responded to requests for comment.
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