Cricket Canada‘s new leadership has begun the process of meeting the conditions required to regain full ICC membership after submitting a wide-ranging reform programme aimed at addressing governance and administrative shortcomings, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo’s Osman Samiuddin. The move comes days after the ICC suspended Cricket Canada for serious breaches of its membership obligations, placing the organisation under increased scrutiny while setting out a pathway toward reinstatement.
The suspension has left the governing body facing one of the most significant governance challenges in its history. While Cricket Canada remains suspended, Canadian national teams will continue to participate in ICC events, and funding for approved national team programmes remains available through a controlled mechanism overseen by ICC management.
Reinstatement becomes the immediate priority
As previously reported by cricexec, the ICC Board suspended Cricket Canada with immediate effect after identifying governance and administrative concerns. The governing body has since been provided with a series of reinstatement conditions, with progress set to be monitored by the ICC Normalisation Committee alongside ICC management. A return to full membership will depend on the ICC Board being satisfied that those requirements have been fully met.
In response, Cricket Canada has submitted what it describes as a comprehensive corrective and preventive action plan. The proposal examines governance and financial-control shortcomings while outlining measures intended to strengthen oversight, reporting structures and administrative processes.
The reform effort is being led by a new administration headed by President Arvinder Khosa, who was elected in May as part of a newly formed nine-member board.
New board seeks to draw a line under past issues
Cricket Canada’s current leadership has argued that many of the concerns identified by the ICC originated before the board took office.
Addressing the situation, Bhavjit Jauhar, Cricket Canada Chief Operating Officer, told ESPNcricinfo in a statement: “Most of the issues pre-date the newly elected board. The majority of the governance and financial control concerns raised by the ICC relate to historical practices and decisions made prior to the April/May elections. The new board has inherited these legacy issues and is now responsible for implementing corrective and preventive reforms. The ICC has been informed that the new board is committed to full compliance and has already begun implementing structural and governance reforms.”
The ICC’s concerns emerged during a routine compliance review that examined governance structures, financial oversight and executive processes. Those findings ultimately led to both the suspension of Cricket Canada’s funding arrangements and the subsequent suspension of its membership.
Independent review launched alongside reform programme
A central part of Cricket Canada’s response is the creation of an independent committee chaired by lawyer Dasha Peregoudova. The committee has been tasked with examining the issues raised during the compliance process and is expected to produce interim recommendations within two weeks, followed by a full report within 45 days.
The review is intended to support the broader reform programme already submitted to the ICC and provide recommendations aimed at strengthening governance standards across the organisation.
Cricket Canada is also expected to work closely with the ICC Normalisation Committee during the reinstatement process. The committee includes Cricket Australia Chair Mike Baird and ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja among its members.
Historical issues continue to cast a shadow
The ICC suspension follows a prolonged period of instability within Canadian cricket administration. Among the most high-profile episodes was the appointment and subsequent removal of former Chief Executive Officer Salman Khan. His appointment attracted ICC scrutiny after previous criminal charges were not disclosed, while Calgary Police have since charged Khan with theft and fraud allegations that he denies.
Separate investigations also continue to hang over the organisation. One relates to Canada’s match against New Zealand during this year’s men’s T20 World Cup and is being handled by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit. Another centres on allegations involving player-selection pressure during the tenure of former Head Coach Khurram Chohan.
Despite those ongoing issues, Cricket Canada’s immediate focus remains on satisfying the ICC’s requirements and restoring confidence in its governance structures.
Jauhar said the organisation “respects the ICC’s decision and is fully committed to meeting all compliance requirements. The Board has directed the Committee to accelerate its investigative and reform mandate to ensure that governance, financial oversight, and reporting systems are strengthened without delay.”
With an independent review underway, a reform blueprint already before the ICC and formal reinstatement conditions now in place, Cricket Canada’s new leadership faces the task of demonstrating that its governance reforms are sufficient to secure a return to full membership.
