Cricket’s expansion ambitions in North America are facing a serious governance test, with administrative instability now affecting both of the region’s leading bodies at a critical moment for the sport’s global growth. According to a report by Toronto Sun, Cricket Canada has been thrust into a legal crisis following a court ruling, while the United States continues to operate under the shadow of prior ICC intervention.
Together, the developments highlight a broader structural problem in a market seen as central to cricket’s Olympic and commercial future.
Court strips Cricket Canada leadership of control
The most immediate flashpoint has emerged in Canada, where the Supreme Court of British Columbia has removed the existing leadership from control of the national governing body.
The decision followed legal action initiated by multiple provincial organisations, ultimately leading to a court-mandated restructuring process. Cricket Canada has been given 21 days to convene a special general meeting, which will be overseen by an independent chair to facilitate the transition of authority.
At the heart of the ruling was a sharp critique of how the organisation has been run.
“the majority of the problems in the parent body were driven by egos and ambitions of certain individuals.” Justice David Crerar stated in court ruling.
The judgment went further, detailing the extent of internal conflict and its financial implications.
“The machinations and squabbles before the Court appear to be driven at least in part by the egos and ambitions of certain named individuals. This litigation would perhaps be fine if those individuals were financing this squabble out of their own pockets, But all of the parties to this petition are charitable organizations, operating on donations, player fees, and taxpayer dollars, which funds are not being used to promote cricket in Canada, but instead are used to hire eight lawyers (including the King’s Counsel and three Bay Street lawyers who represent Cricket Canada) and generated four thick binders of materials, all at great cost,” he said in the ruling.
Financial concerns and audit gaps exposed
Beyond governance disputes, the proceedings also brought financial management into focus, with inconsistencies and documentation gaps flagged during the review.
“On Nov. 26, 2025, Cricket Canada corrected its stated status, filing corrected annual returns and financial statements for the years 2016 through 2024,” he further stated.
However, the corrections did not resolve deeper concerns raised during the audit process.
“Despite this correction, the auditor the 2024 financial statements concluded that was it was not possible to express an audit opinion, as he was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence concerning the underlying nature, classification, and timing of significant receipts and disbursements related to a licensee, due to missing supporting agreements and documentation.” he added in the ruling.
“As at the date of the hearing, the audit of the 2024 financial statements remained incomplete.” he further noted.
Court stops short of full takeover—but issues warning
While the court stopped short of placing Cricket Canada under full external control, it signalled that further intervention remains a possibility if governance issues persist.
“In the circumstances, the Court was inclined to stop the bleeding by appointing a receiver over Cricket Canada. In the end we did not as such relief was not sought in the petition,” the court stated in the ruling.
“If these disputes and dysfunctions continue after this order, it may well be appropriate to appoint a receiver over that institution and perhaps over some or all of the petitioner organizations, to take those organizations out of the hands of their individual directors and operatives.” it added.
Leadership tensions and internal divisions
The ruling has also brought into focus long-standing tensions within Cricket Canada’s leadership structure.
President Amjad Bajwa acknowledged limitations in his influence, telling Postmedia, “This wasn’t enough to make any meaningful changes.”
His own future remains uncertain as the organisation prepares for a reset.
“I still have a few days to think about it,” Bajwa said.
He also pushed back against external allegations tied to his role, saying in comments to The Telegraph, “I am not going to answer to such allegations. You fall into such traps laid by some guys. I am not going to respond.”
Separately, reporting in The Telegraph referenced a letter written by Bhavjit Jauhar, Secretary General of the B.C. cricket board, in which he urged authorities to deny Bajwa a visa for the World Cup, claiming he “was known for expressing anti-India sentiments.” The same correspondence also alleged that Bajwa was “associated with Lakhwinder Cheema, a Vancouver-based Khalistani activist.” and argued that “This request is made solely in the interest of India’s national security and public safety.”
As the situation continues to unfold, attention has also turned to potential ICC involvement. According to Toronto Sun, recently, two ICC officials were sighted in Toronto, but the purpose of their visit was not clear.
Players caught in the middle of governance crisis
Amid the administrative turmoil, Canada’s national team continues to navigate a crucial competitive phase in the Cricket World Cup League 2 pathway.
Captain Saad Bin Zafar, as quoted by Toronto Sun, emphasised the importance of the remaining fixtures, saying “We have 12 games left to achieve this goal and if we prepare well, we could make it,’’
He acknowledged the challenges posed by limited preparation in the format.
“I know we will be playing four matches at home (most likely at King City), but we will be going up against the very best associate nations and we will be playing 50 overs. This will be tough as we haven’t played this version of the game in recent months,” he said.
The stakes remain high, particularly with ODI status on the line.
“It is imperative we finish in the top four. If we drop down the standings Canada could lose its ODI status and that’s the last thing we want to do.” he added.
USA Cricket issues add to regional concerns
While Canada grapples with court-led restructuring, governance challenges in the United States have already drawn intervention from the ICC in recent months.
“The decision, taken by the ICC Board during its meeting earlier, was based on USA Cricket’s repeated and continued breaches of its obligations as a ICC Member under the ICC’s Constitution. These include, but are not limited to, the failure to implement a functional governance structure, lack of progress toward achieving National Governing Body status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and significant actions that have caused reputational damage to cricket in the United States and around the world.” ICC stated in official media release (Sept 23, 2025).
“The suspension is an unfortunate but necessary step to protect the long-term interests of the game and the ICC’s top priority remains ensuring that the athletes and the sport itself are not impacted due to the suspension.” the governing body added.
“The management and administration of USA national teams will temporarily be overseen by the ICC and/or its designated representatives to ensure continued support for the players and maintain momentum towards Olympic inclusion.” it further stated.
A critical moment for cricket in North America
With both Canada and the United States facing governance-related disruption—one through legal intervention and the other through regulatory action—the stability of cricket’s North American ecosystem is under pressure.
At a time when the sport is preparing for a return to the Olympic stage and seeking to strengthen its foothold in key markets, administrative credibility has become as important as on-field performance.
How quickly both systems can stabilise may ultimately determine whether the region fulfils its strategic potential or continues to face setbacks off the field.
