Alleged links between the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and the match-fixing scandal have emerged as a central controversy surrounding Cricket Canada. According to a CBC News report, threats and intimidation may have influenced team decisions during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
At the center of the issue is Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa. His appointment was contested, with claims that players were pressured to support him. Some were reportedly warned of dire consequences if they did not support certain players.
“So they just told him this line that, ‘You’ve got to take care of these guys. These guys shouldn’t be off the team. If they are, you’re in trouble.’ It was obviously very scary for him,” said the source, identified as Noah.
The situation has now caught the attention of the International Cricket Councilwhich has launched an investigation into a possible breach of its anti-corruption rules. One of the matches being watched is Canada’s World Cup match against New Zealand in Chennai.
“At this stage we cannot comment on the substance of the allegations,” said the ICC’s interim head of integrity Andrew Ephgrave.
WHAT CANADA IS A MATCH FIXING SCANDAL
The controversy began after the documentary highlighted problems within Cricket Canada, including poor governance, questionable team selections and possible match-fixing.
One of the focused matches is Canada’s loss to New Zealand, where they failed to defend 173. Bajwa’s bowling, which went for 15 runs including a no-ball and a wide, attracted attention.
MATCH FIXING ALLEGATIONS | WC NZ vs. Canada T20 (31st match)
The ICC’s anti-corruption unit has opened a formal investigation into the group-stage clash that took place on February 17 in Chennai.
Canadian captain Dilpreet Bajwa’s particular over bowling starting with zero, then a wide, pic.twitter.com/j3VCx3GIub— Bharat Briefs (@Bharatbriefshq) April 17, 2026
There are also claims from a leaked phone recording involving former coach Khurram Chohan who reportedly said he was pressured by board members over team selection. The recording also mentions possible repair attempts, but these claims have yet to be proven.
Former coach Pubudu Dassanayake has made similar allegations and is currently taking legal action against the management.
HOW IS BISHNOI GANG INVOLVED IN CANADIAN CRICKET SCANDAL?
The most serious allegations involve the alleged role of the Bishnoi gang in influencing players through threats. According to the report, some players were approached and told to support certain individuals on the team.
“We know where you live. You won’t be able to escape the Bishnoi group,” Noah said, describing one of the threatening messages.
The aim, according to the allegations, was to ensure that Bajwa became the captain and that certain players were not dropped. The situation created fear in the team and even affected the officials, with some seeking police protection and others resigning.
The investigation is still ongoing, but the case has already raised major questions about player safety and the integrity of cricket in Canada.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
21 Apr 2026 13:40 IST
