ICC demands clarity over CEO appointment amid criminal charges
Cricket Canada is under growing pressure from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to explain how Salman Khan was appointed CEO in January 2025—despite facing criminal fraud and theft charges related to his time as president of the Calgary and District Cricket League (CDCL).
In a formal letter dated May 2 and signed by ICC General Manager of development William Glenwright, the ICC noted, as reported by ESPNcricinfo:
“”The charges relate to the alleged misappropriation of funds by Mr Khan and an accomplice (the league’s treasurer) in an amount of around CAD $200,000 over the period 2014-2016.”
The letter requests answers to four critical questions:
- how Khan was hired,
- whether Cricket Canada was aware of the charges at the time,
- when it became aware if it wasn’t initially, and
- what actions the board has taken since the charges became public.
While the ICC’s inquiry is currently framed as a request for information, the situation could trigger enforcement of several clauses within the ICC’s ethics code, especially around transparency and board disclosures. Any potential violation could expose Cricket Canada to sanctions, including funding freezes or governance intervention.
$200,000 fraud case dates back nearly a decade
Khan was charged in March 2025 by Calgary Police alongside former CDCL treasurer Syed Wajahat Ali. Authorities allege the pair misappropriated approximately CAD 200,000 between 2014 and 2016 during their tenure at CDCL.
Despite the severity of the charges, Khan has denied all allegations. In a lengthy Facebook post, he called the claims “completely false” and “fabricated,” stating:
“I have never been arrested, detained, or out on bail. These claims are completely false… They have nothing to prove against me.”
He further alleged that the complainant had previously admitted in civil court that the allegations were baseless:
“I am not worried at all. I’m ready to fight just like I’ve been doing for the past 8 years.”
Provincial cricket administrators have indicated that rumors of the allegations had been circulating informally for years, raising further questions about how they were not considered during Khan’s recruitment.
Questions swirl over hiring process and board governance
Khan’s path to the top job has come under fire for its apparent lack of transparency and board oversight. After being elected as a Cricket Canada director in June 2023, he reportedly resigned mid-term to accept the CEO role. Sources say the specific his appointment was pushed through solely by Board Chair Amjad Bajwa and Director Imran Rana, which according to some reports was done without a full board vote.
Khan’s contract, reportedly a five-year deal with no termination clause, has added fuel to the governance controversy. Critics say such terms are highly unusual for a national sports organization—particularly amid unresolved legal issues.
While Cricket Canada announced in April that it had launched an internal review into both Khan’s appointment and the fraud charges, no findings or timelines have been shared publicly.
NCL deal for GT20
Last December, before Khan took office, the Cricket Canada board terminated its long-standing 25-year agreement with Bombay Sports for the Global T20 Canada league, after accusations of mismanagement and failure to pay vendors. Last month, Cricket Canada replaced it with a new deal with National Cricket League (NCL) Canada.
While some media reporting has now questioned this move in light of Khan’s legal issues and the ICC’s recent letter, the extent to which Khan’s actions while in office can or will be revisited remains unclear.
ICC deadline looms as fallout grows and Cricket Canada Annual General Meetings convene
The ICC has given Cricket Canada 14 days from May 2 to provide full responses. The governing body’s next steps will depend on the board’s reply—and whether it meets the standards of transparency and due diligence expected under ICC governance policies.
As of publication, neither Salman Khan, Amjad Bajwa, nor Imran Rana have issued any public statements.
To add to the swirl of events the Cricket Canada 2025 Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place on May 10 and 11 in Montreal, with inside sources saying ICC representatives will attend.
Key timeline of events
- 2014–2016: Alleged misappropriation of CAD 200,000 at CDCL during Khan’s presidency
- June 2023: Khan elected as Cricket Canada board director
- January 2025: Khan appointed as CEO of Cricket Canada
- 12 Mar 2025: Calgary Police charge Khan and Ali with theft and fraud
- 13 Mar 2025: Cricket Canada consults legal and governance advisors
- 14 Apr 2025: Cricket Canada announces new GT20 deal with NCL Canada
- 2 May 2025: ICC sends formal letter requesting explanation of Khan’s appointment
Upcoming: Cricket Canada Annual General Meeting in Montreal (May 10 and 11), ICC deadline for Cricket Canada to respond to inquiry (May 14)
