Monty Desai, who has earlier worked with the Nepal and Afghanistan men's teams as well as in the franchise and domestic circuits in India, has been appointed head coach of the Canada men's team at a tough time in the cricket set-up in the country. There was no clarity on the duration of the appointment.
"Our foremost priority is to restore Cricket Canada's prominence through performance, professionalism, and a renewed and vitalized sense of purpose. Appointing Monty Desai reflects this vision," Arvinder Khosa, president of Cricket Canada, said in a statement. "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.
"As we build on our recent ICC Men's T20 World Cup appearance, this year marks a pivotal moment, and we are confident that under his leadership, the team will make significant progress."
Canada lost all their four group-stage games at the 2026 men's T20 World Cup, to Afghanistan, New Zealand, South Africa and UAE, and things got worse for them when, in April, it emerged that the ICC's anti-corruption unit was investigating allegations of corruption at the World Cup, focusing on a game involving Canada.
Desai, who Cricket Canada said "is widely respected for instilling belief, structure, and competitive discipline in emerging cricket nations" takes charge at this tricky juncture.
"I am honoured to take on this responsibility and thank Cricket Canada for their trust," he said. "My previous experience in Canada has given me a clear understanding of the system's potential and the passion that exists for the game. 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."