Cricket Canada Under ICC Probe For Match Fixing

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – Fresh concerns over match-fixing have emerged after reports suggested that Cricket Canada is being examined for possible violations of the International Cricket Council anti-corruption code. One of the suspected incidents is believed to have taken place during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The claims were highlighted in a documentary titled Corruption, Crime and Cricket, produced by CBC’s The Fifth Estate. The programme points to a specific over bowled by Canadian captain Dilpreet Bajwa during a match against New Zealand national cricket team as potentially suspicious.

In that game, Canada set a target of 173 while playing in Chennai. Their pace attack, led by Jaskaran Singh and Dilon Heyliger, initially conceded 35 runs. Spin was introduced through Saad Bin Zafar, who delivered an impressive wicket-maiden. Heyliger returned to take another wicket, conceding only five runs before Bajwa bowled the fifth over.

That over drew attention as Bajwa gave away 15 runs, including a no-ball and a delivery down the leg side that resulted in wides, raising questions among investigators.

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Beyond this incident, the ICC is also reviewing a recorded phone conversation involving former Canada coach Khurram Chohan. In the recording, he alleges that senior officials within Cricket Canada pressured him to pick specific players and hinted at possible match manipulation attempts.

Another former coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, has claimed he faced threats of dismissal after refusing to include certain players in the squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit has acknowledged awareness of the documentary but has refrained from commenting on the details, citing standard procedures. It reiterated that its work focuses on intelligence gathering, prevention, education, and investigation whenever there are credible concerns about the sport’s integrity.