Canada’s new cricket coach Monty Desai faces uphill task in qualifiers

Last week five gun shots were fired at the residence of the newly elected president of Cricket Canada Arvinder Khosa in Surrey.

Published May 26, 2026  •  4 minute read

Monty Desai (left), serving as batting coach for the West Indies, takes part in a training session in 2022. AFP via Getty Images

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Off the field, the action has been red hot.

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Tensions ran high in the wild west where things went rap, a-tap-a-tap while in the east — King City to be precise — newly appointed coach Monty Desai has hit the ground running.

But Desai must be wondering why he left the comfort of his home in the United States to take up a temporary coaching position in a country that has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Last week, five gun shots were fired at the residence of the newly elected president of Cricket Canada Arvinder Khosa in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood. Thankfully no one was injured, but bullet holes were found on the doors, windows and exterior walls of the house.

The police believe Khosa was targeted in an extortion-related shooting. There have been insinuations and, of course, a murder the previous week linked to corruption allegations and organized crime links.

This follows match-fixing allegations pinned on the former captain of the national team Dilpreet Bajwa during the World 20 Cup match versus New Zealand.

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The ICC seized Bajwa’s cellphone and, in one wild swoop, froze funds to Cricket Canada for six months in an effort to fix governing issues. Cricket Canada receives $3.6 million of its $5.7 million total revenue from the ICC and this move is a major financial blow to Cricket Canada’s new administration.

The previous association lost its way in a blizzard of confusion and corruption and created a financial mess. In fact, it came within the length of a pitch of destroying the country’s hard-earned reputation as one of the finest associate nations.

But the ICC moved with the lightning speed of a turtle and allowed serious incidents go unpunished. Then it drops its bombshell by freezing funds just when the new administration steps in. Go figure that one out.

What is Monty Desai’s next task?

Now tasked to lifting the national team to its previous glorious years is Monty Desai, who brings with him more than 20 years of international coaching experience. The 51-year-old Desai has had spells with Nepal, Afghanistan, the Indian Premier League and also as a batting coach with the powerful West Indies under head coach Phil Simmons.

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“I am glad to be returning to Canada for a second stint,” said Desai, who was here in 2019 and worked with the squad in the ICC World Cricket League Division Two chase.

“My previous experience in Canada has given me a clear understanding of the system’s potential and the passion that exists for the game,” he added. “I am in the process of building trust with the Canadian squad and it has always been my attitude to walk in and establish high expectations.”

Desai realizes he has his hands full trying to lift the morale and standard of a national squad whose self-esteem was severely dented by the previous administration when it came to salaries and interference in team selection.

In these tough economic times Cricket Canada chopped the players salaries to $3,000 a month. But on the weekend Khosa sent me a message that the top seven players on the squad will receive a bump of $2,000. Not a great deal, but it’s a start.

Desai has had three weeks to instill his winning methods against two of the finest associate nations in the World Cricket League qualifiers.

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Request to move match

In fact, the Sun has learned exclusively that the Netherlands approached the ICC requesting its matches in King City to be moved elsewhere because of the turmoil in Canada’s board room. Thankfully the ICC turned down the Dutch request.

Desai is well aware of the task at hand as taking on the United States and the Dutch will not be a cakewalk.

“Having lived in the U.S. in recent years, I notice they have a professional set up and have not left any stone unturned. That’s the reason for their success in recent years,” Desai said.

“And as far as Dutch go, they always punch way above their weight. They are also a very professional unit with complete players who always build energy as they go.’’

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But Canada is no pushover and we will be ready for these crucial matches.

Desai has enlisted Brampton all-rounder Saad Bin Zafar as his skipper. That’s possibly one of the best decisions the coach has made.

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Bin Zafar led Canada at the World Twenty20 Cup two years ago in the U.S., but was unceremoniously dropped with no reasons given. But, then again, that was the norm with the previous administration.

“I feel honoured to captain the Canadian team once again,” Bin Zafar said. “This opportunity comes with an even greater sense of responsibility, especially since 2026 being such a crucial year for cricket in Canada.”

Canada has 12 matches left this year and Bin Zafar realizes the pressure his team is under.

“We realize when we have ahead of us and we have to play to our full potential. We will have to perform at our absolute best to retain our ODI status and also push strongly for qualification for the 2027 World Cup,” he said.

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