Black Caps’ T20 World Cup win over Canada being investigated for match-fixing claims

A cloud has been cast over the Black Caps’ T20 World Cup victory over Canada, which is reportedly under investigation by the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit.

The match, played in Chennai and won by New Zealand by eight wickets back in February, has had corruption claims cast against it in a new documentary ‘Corruption, Crime and Cricket’, and makes several accusations against Canada Cricket.

ESPN reports the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has two active investigations against Canada Cricket, as a result of the documentary.

The Black Caps are not accused of any wrongdoing.

Instead, the corruption focus revolves around Canada’s Dilpreet Bajwa, who was named captain of the side three weeks before the tournament.

As Canada defended a total of 173-4, Bajwa, primarily in the team as a batter - having taken just three wickets in his professional career - brought himself on to bowl in the fifth over of New Zealand’s chase.

Bajwa began with a no-ball, a rarity for a spinner, before sending down a leg-side wide two deliveries later, as Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra took 15 runs from the over.

The Black Caps chased down the target with 29 deliveries to spare.

The second investigation revolves around former Canada coach Khurram Chohan, after a leaked recorded phone call saw claims of attempts to fix matches.

ESPN reports those claims “involve challenges of corroborating with actionable evidence”.

The call also saw Chohan claim two former Canada Cricket board members were pressured into selecting certain players.

The documentary also saw another former Canada coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, make similar claims over the attempted influencing of team selections during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Dassanayake is currently suing Cricket Canada for wrongful termination.

The news comes on top of administrative calamity for Canada over the past 12 months. Former chief executive Salman Khan was removed from his position after failing to disclose prior criminal charges, and was charged with theft and fraud by Calgary police.

Canada’s players from the 2024 T20 World Cup were also unpaid, and went uncontracted from July 2025, before being given small retainers for the four months leading to this year’s World Cup.

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.