In a period already marked by considerable upheaval, Cricket Canada has been plunged into further turmoil following a terrifying incident. Arvinder Khosa, the interim President of Cricket Canada, was allegedly targeted in an attack at his home in the early hours of a Wednesday morning.
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Shots Fired at President’s Residence
Reports indicate that unidentified individuals discharged firearms towards Khosa’s house at approximately 4:40 AM local time. The residence was occupied during the attack, though fortunately, no injuries have been reported. However, bullet holes were discovered in the doors, windows, and walls of the property, located in the Newton neighbourhood of Surrey, British Columbia Province, confirming the severity of the incident.
While local police are actively investigating and have not yet identified any suspects, the attack is widely believed to be connected to an ongoing extortion case. This development casts a dark shadow over an organization already struggling with multiple controversies and investigations.
Background to Khosa’s Appointment and Previous Governance Issues
Arvinder Khosa assumed the interim presidency in April of this year, stepping into the role after the departure of former CEO Salman Khan. Khan’s exit followed revelations of undisclosed criminal charges against him, which Cricket Canada had failed to report to the ICC. His eventual removal led to the appointment of a nine-person board of directors and a commitment to governance reforms, announced at Cricket Canada’s Annual General Meeting in May, as part of a broader transition initiative.
Shadow of Organized Crime: Allegations of Extortion
The alleged attack on Khosa’s home brings into sharp focus previous allegations of extortion and intimidation within Canadian cricket. Infamous gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang have been accused of targeting both players and board members. A documentary by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) previously alleged that the Bishnoi gang was threatening individuals to ensure certain players were consistently selected for the national team, regardless of their performance or suitability.
Disturbingly, another investigative documentary by the CBC specifically named Arvinder Khosa as having alleged connections to local players reportedly involved with the Bishnoi gang. The documentary further claimed that national team players had begun to assert gang affiliations, with one player reportedly using the Bishnoi name to threaten another in 2025, highlighting a pervasive and alarming environment within Canadian cricket.
ICC Investigations and the Canadian Team Under Scrutiny
The attack on President Khosa’s home coincides with a highly sensitive period for Cricket Canada, as multiple open investigations by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) are currently underway concerning the Canadian team.
T20 World Cup Match Under Investigation
One of these investigations was initiated recently, following the T20 World Cup in February-March. This inquiry specifically pertains to Canada’s loss against New Zealand in the tournament. The focus of the investigation appears to be an over bowled by the Canadian captain, Dilpreet Bajwa, which conceded 15 runs. This particular over drew scrutiny as it followed two preceding overs that had both yielded wickets, with Canada defending a total of just 173 runs. These allegations were initially brought to light through an investigative documentary aired by the CBC.
Allegations of Match-Fixing and Selection Pressure
A second ACU investigation was also prompted by another CBC documentary. This program featured leaked audio calls from 2024 where Khuram Chohan, the former Head Coach of the Canadian National Team, explicitly stated that senior board members had pressured him to select specific players. The recordings also contained hints of potential match-fixing, raising serious questions about the integrity of the sport within Canada.
Chohan’s successor, Pubudu Dassanayake, who has since moved to the USA and is no longer with the Canadian team, also reportedly made similar claims, further solidifying the concerns about undue influence on player selections and potential corruption at the highest levels of Canadian cricket.
ICC Freezes Funding Due to “Governance Failure”
In response to the gravity of these allegations and the mounting evidence of systemic issues, the International Cricket Council took decisive action earlier this month by freezing its funding to Cricket Canada. Citing what it termed “governance failure,” the ICC announced that it would withhold financial support from the Canadian board for the next six months. This unprecedented move underscores the severity of the crisis facing Cricket Canada and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to restore faith and integrity in the organization and the sport it governs.
