Canada in crisis as CEO ousted

Cricket Canada has been thrown into confusion after the announcement that chief executive Atul Ahuja has been removed from office and replaced on an interim basis by Ingleton Liburd, the cricket development officer and a former national captain.

Rumours had been circulating for two days that Ahuja's contract had been terminated following a major falling-out with Ben Sennick, the board's chairman. Other than a terse statement which made almost no reference to Ahuja other than to say he was being replaced, nobody from Cricket Canada was available for comment.

"Sennik would know best why the executive committee were motivated to take this step," Ahuja told Cricinfo. "Per the contract, in year two of the two-year contract, termination without cause entails two months' compensation, and I have received that. However, significant amounts relating to incentive compensation, expenses and vacation pay remain outstanding."

Liburd does not appear to be a long-term option for a board which still harbours ambitions of expanding the game internally and becoming a major player among the Associates internationally. Prior to joining Cricket Canada in 2008, he served as president of the St Kitts Cricket Association and as a territorial development officer for the West Indies Cricket Board.

"Ingleton has a tremendous knowledge of the game of cricket and has demonstrated his leadership skills throughout his association with the game", Sennik said. "On behalf of the Cricket Canada board of directors, we are pleased to have Ingleton as a key part of our team as we continue to enhance cricket's appeal across Canada at the professional and community levels."