T20 World Cup NZ vs Canada Match Under Scanner Amidst ICC Cricket Canada Probe

Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa and New Zealand captain Daryl Mitchell during the toss in the T20 World Cup. ,

The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is investigating two corruption cases involving Cricket Canada. The scope of this investigation also includes a match of the T-20 World Cup recently played between India and Sri Lanka. Apart from this, possible violations of anti-corruption codes at international and domestic levels are also being investigated.

The ICC began this investigation following allegations made in the documentary ‘Corruption, Crime and Cricket’ aired on Canadian public broadcaster CBC. In this 43-minute film, serious questions have been raised on the administration and functioning of Canadian Cricket.

One over of the match against New Zealand is under doubt

The match between Canada and New Zealand during the T-20 World Cup has been mentioned in the documentary. Canada started the match with fast bowlers, but brought in spinner Saad Bin Zafar in the third over itself. After this Ravinderpal Singh Bajwa came as the next spinner. Bajwa started his over with a no-ball, then bowled a wide down the leg side and ended up giving away 15 runs in that over. Bajwa is a batsman who performs part-time off spin. Questions are being raised about his bowling in this very over.

This match was played in Chennai on 17 February in India. In this match, Canada won the toss and decided to bat first. Canada had scored 173 runs for 4 wickets. In this match, New Zealand achieved the target with 28 balls remaining and won the match by 8 wickets.

Former coach claims- ‘There was pressure to choose favorite players’

The second case being investigated by the ICC’s anti-corruption unit is related to alleged pressure on the coach regarding team selection. It is alleged that the team management put pressure on the coach to select certain players.

The ICC is also investigating a leaked audio call in which then coach Khurram Chauhan is heard claiming that senior board members were pressurizing him to include preferred players in the national team. This audio came out last year.

Apart from this, former coach Pubudu Dassanayake has also made similar allegations. He says that during the team selection for the 2024 T20 World Cup, he was put under pressure and was threatened with dismissal if he did not comply.

ICC said – Information about the case is known, investigation is ongoing

Andrew Fgrave, interim general manager of the ICC’s Integrity Unit, said he was aware of the matters depicted in the documentary. However, as per their procedures they cannot comment in detail on any allegations at this time. He said that ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit is working on intelligence and prevention and action will be taken wherever the dignity of the game is threatened.

CEO accused of theft and fraud

Canadian Cricket has been battling administrative turmoil for the past year. The appointment of former CEO Salman Khan was already in controversy as he had hidden information about his past criminal records. He has been charged by Calgary police with theft and fraud, although he denies the charges. Recently, Arvinder Khosa has been elected as the new chairman of the board in place of Amjad Bajwa.

Delay in players getting salary and prize money

It has also been claimed in the documentary that there was a lot of delay in receiving the prize money for the Canadian players participating in the T20 World Cup 2024. Additionally, national-level players were without contracts until July 2023 and were hired on very low retainer fees just four months before the World Cup. It has also revealed links to organized crime, on which ICC says that this is a matter of local police and law and order.

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