Cricket Canada draws up ‘comprehensive’ plan in bid to overturn ICC suspension
Cricket Canada Draws Up Plan to Overturn ICC Suspension
Cricket Canada has submitted a comprehensive plan of action as it seeks the swift reinstatement of its suspended ICC membership. The plan comes after the ICC announced the suspension of Canada’s associate membership for serious breaches of its membership obligations.
Background of the Suspension
The suspension is the culmination of a turbulent period for Canada off the field, which includes the appointment and subsequent removal of former CEO Salman Khan. Khan’s appointment itself had attracted ICC attention, for failing to disclose prior criminal charges, and he has been charged with theft and fraud by Calgary Police. Khan has denied the claims.
In May, Arvinder Khosa was elected board president – after a brief interim stint – to head a newly elected nine-person board of directors. The new board is keen to distance itself from the previous period, with Bhavjit Jauhar, the board’s chief operating officer, stating that most of the issues pre-date the newly elected board.
Corrective and Preventative Action Plan
As part of its first steps, Cricket Canada says it has already submitted a detailed plan – a corrective and preventative action plan – to the ICC, which includes an analysis of its governance and financial missteps, as well as a series of short and long-term measures to bring them back to ICC compliance.
Cricket Canada has also set up an independent committee, led by the lawyer Dasha Peregoudova, which will investigate the issues the ICC has raised and make interim recommendations within a fortnight and a full report on the board’s troubles within 45 days.
Next Steps
Cricket Canada is expected to now work with the ICC’s normalization committee, which includes the Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird and the ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja among its members, in an effort to reinstate membership. Jauhar said the suspension was unexpected, given the independent committee had already begun its work, but said Cricket Canada respects the ICC’s decision and is fully committed to meeting all compliance requirements.
The Board has directed the Committee to accelerate its investigative and reform mandate to ensure that governance, financial oversight, and reporting systems are strengthened without delay. With the comprehensive plan in place, Cricket Canada is hopeful of overturning the ICC suspension and reinstating its membership in the near future.
- The ICC has been informed that the new board is committed to full compliance and has already begun implementing structural and governance reforms.
- Cricket Canada has set up an independent committee to investigate the issues raised by the ICC.
- The committee has unrestricted access to financial records, personnel, and documentation.
The suspension of Cricket Canada’s ICC membership has significant implications for the sport in the country. The new board’s commitment to reform and compliance is a positive step towards reinstating membership and ensuring the long-term growth and development of cricket in Canada.
