Cricket Canada is facing mounting pressure after the International Cricket Council froze funding to the national governing body over concerns linked to governance standards, financial oversight and compliance failures. According to multiple sources, the ICC issued formal notice to Cricket Canada this past Monday, warning the organisation it could permanently lose access to ICC funding unless multiple issues are resolved within six months.
The development marks another major escalation in a governance crisis that has engulfed Cricket Canada in recent months. As previously reported by cricexec, investigations surrounding the organisation examined allegations involving financial irregularities, leadership disputes, selection interference and anti-corruption concerns connected to figures associated with the governing body.
ICC funding represents the largest source of revenue for Cricket Canada. In its 2024 financial filings, the organisation reported receiving more than C$3.6 million (approx. US$2.63 million) from the ICC, accounting for approximately 63 per cent of its annual revenue.
ICC questions financial oversight and governance controls
According to the CBC, ICC concerns included issues surrounding Cricket Canada’s governance structure, financial reporting processes and internal oversight mechanisms.
The report stated the ICC raised questions over inaccurate and incomplete budget information submitted by Cricket Canada, including indications the organisation was still expecting Sport Canada funding despite that support having already been withdrawn.
The ICC also reportedly questioned Cricket Canada’s legal cost disclosures after recent court proceedings suggested the organisation’s legal expenses could approach C$460K (approx. US$335.8K), substantially higher than previously declared figures.
The funding freeze also follows ongoing legal and governance disputes involving provincial cricket associations and former board leadership. A recent British Columbia court ruling criticised Cricket Canada over internal conflicts and prolonged litigation tied to governance disputes inside the organisation.
Cricket Canada Media Manager Jimmy Sharma said in a statement to The Fifth Estate, “The current Board has inherited these issues and is fully committed to resolving all governance, compliance, and financial control deficiencies,”
Cricket Canada had earlier sought to reassure stakeholders regarding its governance and compliance position. As reported previously by cricexec, the organisation stated it remained aligned with the ICC’s anti-corruption framework and committed to cooperating with any reviews or processes required by cricket’s global governing body.
Leadership changes remain under scrutiny, new board attempts to stabilise organisation
The ICC intervention arrived shortly after Cricket Canada formally elected Arvinder Khosa as President during its annual general meeting following months of internal upheaval within the organisation.
Khosa had initially assumed the role on an interim basis after a court-ordered special general meeting resulted in the removal of former President Amjad Bajwa and other directors earlier this year.
Cricket Canada Vice-President Ranjit Chaudhri acknowledged governance concerns existed within Cricket Canada while disputing suggestions of deliberate financial wrongdoing.
“We did find there were definitely governance issues were there, the financial issues, if there are any. I don’t think there was mismanagement, it was just not properly accounted in proper accounts, that’s probably what it was,” Chaudhri told the CBC at Wednesday’s NCLGT20 launch event in Brampton, Ontario.
Cricket Canada now faces a critical period as it attempts to restore confidence with the ICC, address governance concerns raised by both domestic and international stakeholders, and stabilise the organisation ahead of a major period of cricket growth across North America.
