Cricket chiefs in Canada are under serious pressure to act after more allegations surfaced about potential match-fixing committed during the Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka last year.
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is probing corruption claims linked to Cricket Canada, which led to one player seeking protection from authorities in Sri Lanka.
Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa, a 24-year-old cricketer born in Batala in Punjab, is under investigation over alleged suspicious activity.
Reports come ahead of explosive documentary release
The ACU is currently conducting two investigations involving Cricket Canada, examining alleged breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code at both international and domestic levels.
These allegations came to light through a 43-minute documentary titled “Corruption, Crime and Cricket”, produced by The Fifth Estate and aired on CBC. The film levels sweeping claims of corruption and poor governance within Cricket Canada.
Andrew Ephgrave, interim General Manager of the ICC’s Integrity Unit,told ESPNcricinfo: “The ACU is aware of the programme broadcast by CBC. Consistent with its established operating procedures, the ACU is not in a position to comment on the substance of any allegations contained within it.
“Governance matters in relation to ICC Members are considered by the ICC, where they fall under its jurisdiction, in accordance with the ICC’s standard constitutional processes.
“The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit operates across three core functions: intelligence, prevention and education, and investigation. These functions operate concurrently and are applied wherever there is a credible basis to believe the integrity of the sport may be at risk.”
Details of two investigations beginning to emerge
According to the documentary, one World Cup-related allegation centers on Canada’s match against New Zealand. Particular focus has been placed on the fifth over of New Zealand’s run chase, when captain Dilpreet Bajwa, just 22 at the time and appointed only three weeks before the tournament, came on to bowl.
Despite being a batting all-rounder that bowls a bit of spin, Bajwa took the ball with New Zealand at 35/2. He began his over with a no ball and also bowled a wide before completing his six deliveries at the cost of 15 runs.
A separate probe centers on an audio recording of a phone call involving former Canada coach Khurram Chohan, who alleges that senior, now former, Cricket Canada board officials pressured him to pick specific players for the national team. The recording, which surfaced publicly last year, has been under review by the ACU since then. It also includes allegations of attempted match-fixing, although investigators have faced difficulties substantiating those claims with concrete evidence.
Cricket’s chequered history with match manipulation
Cricket has faced repeated challenges with corruption over the years, with several high-profile scandals underscoring the sport’s vulnerability to match-fixing and illegal betting networks.
One of the most notorious cases came in 2000, when former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje was banned for life after admitting to taking money from bookmakers to influence matches. The scandal sent shockwaves through the sport and prompted sweeping reforms to strengthen anti-corruption measures.
A decade later, the issue resurfaced during the 2010 tour of England, when three Pakistan players, including Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir, were implicated in a spot-fixing scheme involving deliberate no-balls. The players received bans and, in some cases, prison sentences in the United Kingdom.
More recently, investigations in domestic Twenty20 leagues, including the Indian Premier League, have highlighted how shorter formats and the global expansion of betting markets have created new integrity risks. In 2013, several players and team officials were sanctioned after being linked to illegal betting and spot-fixing activities tied to the tournament.
The ICC has since expanded the role of its Anti-Corruption Unit, increasing monitoring, education and enforcement efforts across international and domestic competitions. Still, experts say the sport remains exposed, particularly in emerging cricket nations and lower-profile matches where oversight may be less robust.
The latest allegations involving Cricket Canada come against that backdrop, raising renewed concerns about the reach of corruption in the global game and the ongoing challenge of safeguarding its integrity.
