Canada T20 Team in Hot Water Following Threat & Match-Fixing Allegations

EDMONTON – The T20 World Cup is a great event to further the mission of T20 cricket. That mission is to show the world that there is an exciting iteration of the game that appears far removed from the five-day Test matches that would be classified as your "grandpa's" cricket. Sadly, Cricket Canada is now under fire and is currently under investigation by the ICC.

There is a recent documentary titled "Corruption, Crime, and Cricket Canada" that outlines investigations pertaining to Cricket Canada involving "match-fixing" and "poor governance."

CBC reports that one national Canadian cricketer was approached by two individuals who claimed to represent the Bishnoi Gang.

"They told the star that if he didn't support the rise of a young player named Dilpreet Bajwa and another player on the men's provincial team and the national team, he and his family would face consequences," CBC reports. "You must take care of these guys. These guys should not get dropped from the team. If they do, you are in trouble."

Unfortunately, that's not where the troubling findings end.

"Those who were threatened say the main goal of the intimidation campaign was protecting the ascendancy of 23-year old Dilpreet Bajwa to national team captain," the outlet continues. "His captaincy was controversial from the beginning. In January, a month before the team left for the World Cup, veteran Nicholas Kirton, a left-handed all-rounder, appeared to be captain. A week after the team's arrival in Sri Lanka to train ahead of the tournament, players and coaches were called into a special meeting where Bajwa was announced as captain."

"It surprised some players, and even the head coach told the fifth estate he was caught off guard."

Then, the outlet revealed the allegations of match-fixing. Specifically, a match against New Zealand, Canada's third T20 World Cup group-phase match.

"During that match against New Zealand, Bajwa's first delivery set off sirens in the stadium," CBC reported. "He had bowled what's known as a no-ball, an illegal delivery because his foot had stepped over the line."

"No-balls historically are key indicators that fixing could be happening in a match, according to Osman Samiuddin, senior editor at ESPNcricinfo."

These are just two instances of intimidation and corruption that this investigation from The Fifth Estate unearthed. The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is currently operating an investigation into these allegations.