Ottawa/New Delhi: The Lawrence Bishnoi gang may have been involved in a match fixing scandal involving Cricket Canada, it has been alleged.
Threats and intimidation may have influenced team decisions during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a report by CBC News says.
Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa is at the centre of the controversy. His appointment has come under question, with claims that players were pressured to support him. Some were allegedly warned of serious consequences if they did not back certain players.
“So they straight up said this wording to him, that ‘You must take care of these guys. These guys should not get dropped from the team. If they do, you are in trouble.’ Obviously that was very scary for him,” a source identified as Noah said..
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has now started an investigation into possible breaches of its anti-corruption rules. One of the matches being looked at is Canada’s World Cup game against New Zealand in Chennai.
“We cannot comment on the substance of the allegations at this stage,” ICC’s interim integrity chief Andrew Ephgrave said, as
reported by India Today.
The matter first came to light after a documentary highlighted issues within Cricket Canada, including poor governance, questionable team selections and possible match-fixing.
A match under focus is Canada’s loss to New Zealand, where they failed to defend 173. A particular over bowled by Bajwa, which went for 15 runs including a no-ball and a wide, has drawn attention.
Claims have also been made of a leaked phone recording involving former coach Khurram Chohan, who allegedly said he was pressured by board members over team selection. The recording also mentions possible fixing attempts, but these claims are yet to be proven.
Former coach Pubudu Dassanayake has made similar allegations and is currently taking legal action against the board.
The most serious claims involve the Bishnoi gang’s alleged role in influencing players through threats. According to the report, some players were approached and told to support certain individuals in the team.
“We know where you live. You won’t be able to run away from the Bishnoi Group,” Noah said, describing one of the threatening messages.
According to the allegations, the aim was to ensure Bajwa became captain and that certain players were not dropped. The situation created fear within the team and even affected officials, with some seeking police protection and others stepping down.
The case has already raised major questions about player safety and the integrity of cricket in Canada, even as investigation continues.