Desai named Canada's men's coach amid turbulent time for Cricket Canada

West Indies' Nicholas Pooran, left, listens to batting coach Monty Desai in the nets during a training session ahead of their first one day international cricket match against India, in Chennai, India, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Cricket Canada announced Friday it has appointed Monty Desai as head coach of the men’s national team, a move the organization hopes will bring stability as it deals with corruption allegations.

It will mark the second stint in the job for the 51-year-old Indian, who held the same post on an interim basis 2019.

Desai led Nepal’s national team in 2023 and 2024, helping the country retain its one-day international status. He was also head coach of the Kathmandu Gurkhas of the Nepal Premier League last year.

“My previous experience in Canada has given me a clear understanding of the system’s potential and the passion that exists for the game,” Desai said in a release.

“Associate cricket is an important driver in the global growth of cricket today, and teams like Nepal and Afghanistan have demonstrated what belief, discipline, and fearlessness can unlock. Canada has a similar opportunity, and my focus will be on building a culture that translates this potential into consistent performances on the international stage.”

The hiring of Desai comes at a tough time on and off the pitch for Canada.

The country lost all four of its group games at the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, cricket’s governing body said it is investigating allegations of corruption against Cricket Canada that were raised in a CBC documentary last month.

The investigative documentary “Corruption, Crime and Cricket” alleged that captain Dilpreet Bajwa’s fifth over against New Zealand at the T20 World Cup was under the scrutiny of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit.

The 22-year-old Bajwa was named Canada captain just three weeks before the tournament, jointly co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

New Zealand was 35-2 when Bajwa started the fifth over with a no-ball, then bowled a leg side wide ball before eventually conceding 15 runs off the over.

“Our foremost priority is to restore Cricket Canada’s prominence through performance, professionalism, and a renewed and vitalized sense of purpose,” Cricket Canada president Arvinder Khosa said in a release. “Appointing Monty Desai reflects this vision. His experience with Associate nations, most notably Nepal and Afghanistan, demonstrates his ability to transform teams through effective leadership, discipline, and a clear long term plan.”

-- With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2026.