Cricket Canada president targeted in Surrey home amid extortion probe

Gunshots were fired at the residence of Arvinder Khosa, the newly elected president of Cricket Canada, in the Newton neighbourhood of Surrey, British Columbia, early on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at approximately 4:40 a.m. local time while the property was occupied. No injuries were reported, but bullet holes were discovered on the doors, windows, and exterior walls of the home.

Surrey Police confirmed that the shooting is linked to an ongoing extortion investigation. Sergeant Ali Gailus, a media relations officer for the force, stated that an individual associated with the residence had previously received extortion-related threats. The investigation remains in its early stages, with authorities treating the attack as a targeted act of intimidation rather than a random criminal event.

The violence comes barely days after Khosa officially assumed the presidency following the board’s annual general meeting in Mississauga on May 9. Khosa had previously served as interim president after a court-ordered leadership vote replaced former president Amjad Bajwa. His appointment has been immediately overshadowed by a broader crisis engulfing Canadian cricket, including allegations of administrative misconduct and financial irregularities.

Cricket Canada is currently facing severe institutional pressure, including a six-month funding freeze imposed by the International Cricket Committee (ICC). The suspension was enacted due to integrity concerns and questions surrounding financial disclosures. As ICC funding accounts for a significant portion of the organisation’s operational revenue, the freeze has placed Cricket Canada under considerable financial strain.

Allegations of external interference have further complicated the administration’s standing. A CBC Fifth Estate investigation recently revealed claims that individuals allegedly connected to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang intimidated members within Canadian cricket circles ahead of the T20 World Cup. Investigators are also probing suspicious activity during Canada’s match against New Zealand in Chennai, where unusual wides and no-balls during a crucial over raised spot-fixing concerns.

This is not the first violent episode linked to the board this year. Earlier, a former Cricket Canada board member’s home in Calgary was targeted in two separate shooting incidents, forcing the official to temporarily relocate his family before resigning. While investigators have not established a direct connection between the Calgary and Surrey shootings, the pattern of violence highlights the volatile environment surrounding the sport’s leadership.