{
  "id": 527533,
  "title": "‘Nepal will remain special’ but now Monty Desai is trying to make a meaningful impact with troubled Canada",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/nepal-will-remain-special-but-now-monty-desai-is-trying-to-make-a",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T02:57:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2026/08/10/nepal-will-remain-special-but-now-monty-desai-is-trying-to-make-a-meaningful-impact-with-troubled-canada/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Canada's cricket is facing significant challenges, with the sport's association being suspended by the ICC due to serious breaches of membership obligations. Revelations from a CBC News documentary have suggested that the sport in Canada is being influenced by members of an organized crime gang operating from an Indian prison cell. The team is reportedly \"rife with division and fear,\" with some players selected specifically to improperly influence results or aspects of matches. Firearms have reportedly been fired at the homes of cricket administrators and a board member of Cricket Canada.\n\nDespite these issues, the national team is still allowed to participate in ICC competitions. They are set to play against the UAE in the Cricket World Cup League Two in Dundee, Scotland. The match will be monitored by the ICC's anti-corruption unit at Forfarshire Cricket Club, with two former police officers leading the effort. This extra vigilance is a standard practice for ICC fixtures, but it is particularly heightened given the recent claims against Canadian cricket.\n\nHowever, there is a glimmer of hope in this gloomy situation. Monty Desai has been appointed as the interim coach of the Canadian team. Desai, a mechanical engineer from Mumbai, has previously served as a batting consultant for the UAE and led Nepal for two years. He is known for his amiable nature and dedication to building a strong team foundation.\n\nDesai expressed his belief that the most meaningful coaching opportunities are often the toughest ones. He took an interest in the challenging assignment, stating that \"I wasn't really sure at the start, but there was an assurance given from this board, especially the people who got elected, that they wanted to go a different route.\" He moved his family to the United States, which was part of the reason he accepted the Canada job.\n\nDesai's experience in Nepal was particularly meaningful to him. He left that role feeling proud of the foundations he had helped build and the strong fanbase the team had. Despite the challenges, Desai is optimistic about his time with the Canadian team, emphasizing that \"whatever we were able to do there was meaningful.\" He acknowledged the difficulty of leaving a role he was proud of, but he was ready to respect the management's decision to end his contract.",
  "summary": "Given the stories emanating from Canadian cricket of late, they might have been better served by appointing police troopers to oversee their side rather than a cricket coach. The country’s cricket association was suspended by the ICC at the start of June due to “serious breaches of its membership obligations”. That followed revelations earlier this year in a CBC News documentary that claimed the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "‘Nepal will remain special’ but now Monty Desai is trying to make a meaningful impact with troubled Canada",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/nepal-will-remain-special-but-now-monty-desai-is-trying-to-make-a-528797",
        "published": "2026-08-11T02:57:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}