Cricket Canada froze player salaries in October 2025 despite maintaining nominal central contracts worth $15,000-$35,000 annually for 18 players.
Captain Saad Bin Zafar’s Grade A contract lists $30,000-$35,000 but actual payments remain suspended amid administrative turmoil forcing cricketers toward overseas leagues for survival income.
Major League Cricket’s 2023 agreement allowing Canadians to compete as domestic players provides $30,000-$125,000 supplementary earnings.
Caribbean Premier League contracts ($10,000-$50,000) and terminated GT20 Canada previously offered local franchise opportunities now replaced entirely by American and regional T20 leagues.
Check individual player biography and net worth information for Canada’s cricket squad.
| Player Name | Positions Name |
| Saad Bin Zafar | All-rounder |
| Dilon Heyliger | All-rounder |
| Harsh Thaker | All-rounder |
| Ajayveer Singh | All-rounder |
| Akhil Kumar | All-rounder |
| Aaron Johnson | Batsman |
| Navneet Dhaliwal | Batsman |
| Nicholas Kirton | Batsman |
| Ravinderpal Singh | Batsman |
| Rayyan Pathan | Batsman |
| Dilpreet Bajwa | Batsman |
| Pargat Singh | Batsman |
| Kanwarpal Tathgur | Batsman |
| Shreyas Movva | Wicket-keeper |
| Anoop Ravi | Wicket-keeper |
| Jeremy Gordon | Bowler |
| Junaid Siddiqui | Bowler |
| Kaleem Sana | Bowler |
| Nikhil Dutta | Bowler |
| Rishiv Joshi | Bowler |
Top 10 Highest-Paid Canada Cricketers
Canadian players survive primarily through overseas franchise earnings rather than Cricket Canada payments. Saad Bin Zafar leads nominal contract values though actual 2025 disbursements remain frozen creating income crisis across the squad.
| Player | Role | CC Grade | Nominal Annual Contract | MLC/CPL Earnings | Total Est. Earnings |
| Saad Bin Zafar | Spinner (c) | A | $30,000-$35,000 (frozen) | $50,000 (GT20/KPL) | $50,000+ |
| Aaron Johnson | Batsman | A | $28,000-$32,000 (frozen) | $40,000 (MLC/CPL) | $40,000+ |
| Navneet Dhaliwal | Batsman | A | $28,000-$32,000 (frozen) | $35,000 (CPL) | $35,000+ |
| Kaleem Sana | Fast bowler | B | $20,000-$25,000 (frozen) | $45,000 (MLC) | $45,000+ |
| Jeremy Gordon | Fast bowler | B | $20,000-$25,000 (frozen) | $30,000 (MLC) | $30,000+ |
| Shreyas Movva | Wicketkeeper | B | $18,000-$22,000 (frozen) | $35,000 (MLC) | $35,000+ |
| Ravinderpal Singh | Batsman | B | $18,000-$22,000 (frozen) | $25,000 (CPL) | $25,000+ |
| Nikhil Dutta | Bowler | B | $20,000-$25,000 (frozen) | $30,000 (MLC) | $30,000+ |
| Dilpreet Bajwa | All-rounder | C | $15,000-$18,000 (frozen) | $35,000 (MLC) | $35,000+ |
| Nicholas Kirton | Batsman | C | $15,000-$18,000 (frozen) | $20,000 (MLC) | $20,000+ |
Saad Bin Zafar’s $1 million net worth stems from Kashmir Premier League ($25,000), Global T20 Canada ($30,000 per season pre-2024 termination), and 15-year international career supplemented by Toronto-area coaching income. His Cricket Canada contract remains unpaid since October 2025 salary freeze implementation.
Kaleem Sana earned $60,000 from LA Knight Riders during 2024 MLC season, the highest single-contract value for any Canadian cricketer. His fast-bowling specialty created demand surpassing frozen Cricket Canada Grade B payments by 3x.
Richest Canada Cricketers by Net Worth
Limited franchise participation and frozen domestic contracts restrict Canadian cricketers’ wealth accumulation. Saad Bin Zafar leads current squad members while retired players accumulated marginally higher career earnings through longer CPL tenure.
| Player | Role | Estimated Net Worth | Age | Primary Wealth Source |
| Saad Bin Zafar | Spinner | $1M | 38 | GT20 + KPL + CPL + Coaching |
| Nitish Kumar (USA switch) | Batsman | $600K | 31 | MLC + Minor League Cricket |
| Aaron Johnson | Batsman | $400K | 35 | CPL + GT20 + Real estate |
| Navneet Dhaliwal | Batsman | $350K | 34 | CPL + GT20 + Day job |
| Kaleem Sana | Fast bowler | $200K | 27 | MLC + Construction business |
Saad Bin Zafar built $1 million through Global T20 Canada ($30,000 x 4 seasons), Kashmir Premier League ($25,000 2022), Caribbean Premier League stints ($15,000-$20,000), and Cricket Canada contracts totaling $400,000 over 15 years.
His Toronto cricket academy generates $60,000-$80,000 annually supplementing frozen international payments.
Nitish Kumar switched allegiance to USA cricket after representing Canada internationally, prioritizing stable MLC income ($75,000 with LA Knight Riders 2024) over Cricket Canada’s administrative chaos.
His net worth grew from $150,000 to $600,000 following USA switch enabling consistent franchise participation.
Aaron Johnson accumulated $400,000 balancing cricket with real estate ventures in Greater Toronto Area. His CPL contracts averaged $15,000-$20,000 per season while GT20 Canada paid $25,000 annually before league termination forced exclusive overseas dependency.
Cricket Canada Central Contract Structure
Cricket Canada’s contract system collapsed in 2025 following salary freeze affecting 18 centrally contracted players. Nominal values established in 2019 initiative remain listed but unpaid creating exodus toward American and Caribbean leagues.
Cricket Canada 2025 Contract Grades (Frozen):
Grade A: $30,000-$35,000 annually – Saad Bin Zafar, Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal (payments suspended October 2025).
Grade B: $18,000-$25,000 annually – Kaleem Sana, Jeremy Gordon, Shreyas Movva, Ravinderpal Singh, Nikhil Dutta, Harsh Thaker (no disbursements 2025).
Grade C: $15,000-$18,000 annually – Dilpreet Bajwa, Nicholas Kirton, Pargat Singh, Dillon Heyliger (contract values frozen).
Match Fees: ODI/T20I – $400-$700 per game (delayed payments reported throughout 2025 season).
Tournament Bonuses: ICC qualification – $2,000-$5,000 theoretical distribution (actual payments suspended).
Afghanistan’s ACB Grade A pays $12,000 annually with consistent disbursement versus Canada’s frozen $35,000 maximum creating perverse situation where lower nominal contracts provide actual income. USA Cricket offers no central contracts but facilitates $50,000-$125,000 MLC opportunities for domestic players.
MLC and Franchise League Earnings
Major League Cricket’s 2023 domestic player agreement rescued Canadian cricketers from Cricket Canada’s financial dysfunction. MLC contracts ranging $30,000-$125,000 now provide primary income replacing frozen board payments entirely.
Canadians in MLC 2024: Kaleem Sana (LA Knight Riders – $60,000), Shreyas Movva (Seattle Orcas – $45,000), Dilpreet Bajwa (Texas Super Kings – $35,000), Jeremy Gordon (San Francisco Unicorns – $40,000).
Caribbean Premier League: Aaron Johnson (St Lucia Kings – $20,000), Navneet Dhaliwal (Jamaica Tallawahs – $15,000), Ravinderpal Singh (Guyana Amazon Warriors – $12,000).
Global T20 Canada (Terminated 2024): Previously paid $20,000-$35,000 per season before league collapse eliminated Canada’s only domestic franchise option.
Kashmir Premier League: Saad Bin Zafar (Muzaffarabad Tigers 2022 – $25,000), isolated participation due to political tensions limiting Pakistani league access.
Combined franchise cricket generates $250,000-$400,000 annually for Canada’s top five players. MLC’s expansion into Canada by 2027 promises Toronto/Vancouver-based teams potentially creating $1M+ salary opportunities matching American franchise standards.
Tournament Bonuses and Incentive Structures
Cricket Canada’s theoretical bonus system remains suspended alongside frozen base contracts. ICC tournament progression bonuses listed in 2019 agreements never materialized following administrative dysfunction beginning 2023.
ICC Qualification (Theoretical): T20 World Cup qualification – $3,000-$5,000 per player (unpaid for 2024 tournament), regional qualifier wins – $1,000-$2,000 (suspended).
Bilateral Series (Nominal): Series victories – $500-$1,500 per player (no disbursements recorded 2024-25), whitewash achievements – $2,000-$3,000 (contract values only).
Individual Performance (Listed): Player of Match – $200-$300 (payments frozen), Player of Series – $1,000-$1,500 (theoretical distribution).
MLC playoff bonuses provide actual incentive income with LA Knight Riders distributing $5,000-$10,000 per player for 2024 championship run. Kaleem Sana earned $8,000 playoff bonus supplementing his $60,000 base contract creating realistic performance rewards absent from Cricket Canada structure.
FAQs
Who is Canada’s highest-paid cricketer currently?
Kaleem Sana earned $68,000 total in 2024 combining $60,000 LA Knight Riders MLC contract plus $8,000 playoff bonuses, exceeding Saad Bin Zafar’s frozen $35,000 Cricket Canada Grade A payment. MLC deals now determine Canada’s top earners after salary freeze eliminated board income.
How much does Cricket Canada pay contracted players?
Cricket Canada froze all player salaries in October 2025 despite maintaining nominal contracts listing $15,000-$35,000 annually across three grades. Grade A players theoretically earn $30,000-$35,000, Grade B $18,000-$25,000, Grade C $15,000-$18,000, but zero actual disbursements occurred since freeze implementation.
Which Canadian cricketers play in Major League Cricket?
Four Canadians secured MLC 2024 contracts following domestic player agreement: Kaleem Sana (LA Knight Riders – $60,000), Shreyas Movva (Seattle Orcas – $45,000), Dilpreet Bajwa (Texas Super Kings – $35,000), Jeremy Gordon (San Francisco Unicorns – $40,000). Combined MLC earnings totaled $180,000.
What is Saad Bin Zafar’s total net worth?
Saad Bin Zafar’s net worth stands at $1 million accumulated through GT20 Canada ($120,000 total), Kashmir Premier League ($25,000), CPL contracts ($80,000 combined), Cricket Canada payments ($400,000 over 15 years), and cricket academy income generating $60,000-$80,000 annually in Toronto.
Why did Cricket Canada freeze player salaries?
Administrative dysfunction and financial mismanagement forced Cricket Canada to freeze player salaries October 2025 while maintaining CEO and senior officer payments. The freeze affects all 18 centrally contracted players receiving zero income despite ongoing international commitments, driving exodus toward MLC and CPL opportunities.
