Salman Khan, the freshly minted CEO of Cricket Canada, is facing a legal bouncer: charges of fraud and theft tied to his past role at the Calgary and District Cricket League (C&DCL). Alongside former treasurer Syed Wajahat Ali, Khan’s accused of pocketing $200,000 meant for the league between 2014 and 2016. His response? A defiant “not out,” branding the allegations a total fabrication.
Calgary police dropped the bombshell Wednesday, claiming the pair—Khan, 46, and Ali, 45, both now Milton, Ontario residents—misused league funds via cheques to shady contractors tied to their inner circle. The cash, meant for sprucing up the clubhouse and grounds, allegedly funded subpar or nonexistent work, with inflated bills to boot. It took a 2017 audit by the league’s new president to spot the mess, sparking a multi-year, cross-province police probe that’s now landed the duo in court, facing fraud and theft charges over $5,000 each. Their first appearance is set for Thursday, March 13.
Khan’s not backing down. In a post on the Alberta Cricket Association’s Facebook page, he called the case a seven-year-old grudge match. “Police only reached out last year, and when I asked to meet after Ramadan, they charged me without my side or evidence,” he argued. “Eight years, and they’ve proven nothing—I’m ready to fight this.” Posts on X echo his stance, with some users decrying it as a “defamation hit” while others demand accountability.
The C&DCL says it’s since shored up its defenses with stricter financial rules. Cricket Canada, where Khan’s been CEO since January, hasn’t swung hard either way—GM Ingleton Liburd deferred to president Amjad Bajwa, who’s yet to weigh in. Khan was hired to boost cricket’s profile in Canada, but this drama adds to a rocky spell for the body, already bruised by player selection rows and a coach’s lawsuit last year.
With charges unproven and Khan digging in, this innings is far from over. Will it be a clean bowl or a defiant stand? The scoreboard’s still ticking.