Cricket Canada is sabotaging its own World Cup squad – again

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Team Canada was sabotaged during its final appearance at the Cricket World Cup by Canada, its own national organization.

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Canada stunned Test nation Ireland in their first-round Twenty20 World Cup match in 2024 and then-coach Pubudu Dassanayake felt a place in the second round was a possibility.

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But then the sky fell on him and his squad.

Instead of enjoying the moment, Dassanayake, who had been training and carefully selecting the best to represent the country, was told by the Cricket Canada board that a new group of players were being airlifted to help the team. He was told in no uncertain terms: play or be fired.

Dassanayake told Postmedia in an exclusive interview that he “felt handcuffed. All that hard work was ruined.”

This, of course, was scandalous behavior, and upon returning home Dassanayake was fired.

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Now, as the national team prepares for the next World Cup in India in 2026, many believe this scenario will happen again. Players with connections to board members are obviously given privileges and are placed in the national team at the expense of regular players.

The build-up to 2026 has been challenging and confidence is at an all-time low. the team has not received a cent since July. But after persistent demands and no pay since August, they were paid $3,000 a month at the end of October for the next four months. Just four months!

It's a complete disgrace considering Treasurer Charles Pais receives his annual salary of around $150,000, along with CEO Salman Khan, who is paid a similar stipend despite being suspended last month.

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Last month, Pies released money for board members to fly to Calgary from Vancouver for a meeting about Khan's dismissal, but it was not warranted because most of those members were in Vancouver for the Super 60 tournament.

Pais was in the crosshairs of the team and fans in general due to his intimidation tactics when it came to the team. He won't even dig into CC's coffers to help players find a physiotherapist or massage therapist. These professional athletes are responsible for fundraising.

As one disgruntled board member told me, it's time for a forensic audit of the CC account. Going back to 2024, CC hired a physical therapist for the duration of the World Cup and he was not certified.

“I wonder if he ever went to the gym in his life,” one former player said.

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Unfortunately, CC President Amjad Bajwa lost control of his board of directors within a year of being in power and the circus is now run by clowns, which is harming the game in many ways in the country.

What's even more shocking is that all but one of the countries that will be participating in the World Cup in India next year have not even begun preparing for this global event, where every game will attract millions of eyes. Canada's preparations for the global event have been limited to two or three days indoors in Toronto, while other countries have outlined plans for exhibition matches around the world.

Team Canada has been advised that CC is in the process of organizing a tour to St. Kitts or Barbados in December or January. He then expects these players, who have been forced to find part-time jobs because there is no way they can survive on such a low $3,000 monthly stipend when food, rent and all other amenities are through the roof, to compete at a high level.

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What's annoying and mind-boggling at the same time is that the International Cricket Council, the sport's governing body, has awarded each of the qualifying nations US$300,000 to prepare for this momentous event.

So, why are Bajwa, Pais and the rest of the board holding onto this windfall?

“CC is ruining our chances of success,” said a former team member close to the team. “Talking to some of the players, it's obvious they lack confidence.”

This shouldn't come as a surprise. It's also worth noting that Cricket Canada will receive $200,000, which will be split between players and support staff for participating. This is where CC pokes her nose into the coach's affairs in order to enrich her own friends.

It's a shame that the ICC didn't take a stand against CC's management of the game. The ICC wrote to CC wanting to know why CEO Salman Khan was hired even though Calgary police had filed a fraud case against him.

Additionally, two months ago, the high-security team was in Toronto investigating three CC members accused of betting on their own team.

Clowns are going crazy.

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