S'pore Cricket Association CEO suspended as coach for 1 year, national players alleged he used slurs & vulgarities

Safe Sport Disciplinary Panel has suspended the Singapore Cricket Association's (SCA) CEO, Saad Khan Janjua, from coaching for one year following abuse allegations from national players.

According to the Safe Sport Commission's Disciplinary Database, he has also been suspended from his administrative role until the completion of "educational intervention".

In response to Mothership's queries, the Safe Sport Commission said it received reports of concern in August 2024, which were assessed as potentially breaching the Safe Sport Unified Code.

Numerous players speak out

Numerous players from the men's national team reached out to Mothership to share their experience under Janjua.

Janjua was a professional cricketer in Pakistan from January 1994 until December 2005.

He then came to Singapore.

He eventually became a national player and played for Singapore until December 2015 before he became the association's CEO.

Playing in fear

Speaking to Mothership, the players alleged that Janjua "ill-treated" the players and accused him of "screwing up the entire cricket system in Singapore".

He allegedly used racially-charged slurs and insults against the players.

He also allegedly called them "f*ckers" or "sisterf*ckers".

The players alleged that Janjua created a toxic environment in which they felt they were playing in fear and were unable to speak up.

They said Janjua would berate them if they performed poorly in the sport, to the point where they felt like they did not care if they won or lost the matches, as long as he did not scold them.

"It shifted the game from winning and losing to whether we were making them happy," said one player.

Painful memories

These players have been on the team for years and faced the verbal abuse from Janjua, and it apparently took a mental toll on them.

One player added that revisiting these memories was painful.

"You can jest, you can say no offence after that, but these things were so difficult and it was always meant to hurt them when they were down, they were low, when they were insecure," he added.

There was also an element of "humiliation" as the players were often scolded in public and were not able to stand up for themselves, he said.

"All you dream of is to play for your country... It's a matter of pride. It's not a matter that is taken lightly... So for things like this to happen, it just devalues what playing for your country means," he added.

The players claimed they told the association about Janjua's behaviour in 2023.

Janjua played a less active part in the men's team, but he was soon involved again.

The players finally banded together and filed a report with Safe Sport to address Janjua's behaviour.

One of the players shared that the players played in the national team for the love of the game and the pride of representing the country, but under Janjua's stewardship, he "took all the pleasure away from us".

Immediately implemented

In response to Mothership's queries, the president of Singapore Cricket Association, Mahmood Gaznavi, said they were notified of Safe Sport's decision via email and have "noted all the directions which have been immediately implemented".

"Safe Sport has investigated the matter and meted out the prohibitions. We will comply with these to the fullest," he added.

Players react to sanctions

When the players found out about the sanctions imposed on Janjua, they expressed their disappointment, wanting him removed from a position of power.

"We wanted him out of the CEO position, the position of power which entitled him to make a lot of decisions pertaining to coaching, team selection and how cricket in the country was run," said one of the players.

While the players appreciate the outcome of the Safe Sport Disciplinary Panel, they said they felt that Janjua should not be part of the association at all: "There needs to be a clean slate. There needs to be a fresh professional guy that comes in and takes over the association."

Mothership understands that Janjua does not hold an official coaching role in the team.

According to the Safe Sport Commission, Janjua is prohibited from having any influence over the coaching of athletes selected for the 2025 SEA Games.

Regarding Janjua's suspension as a sport administrator, the Safe Sport Commission said the suspension has been lifted, as he has completed the Safe Sport course.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Janjua said he took the course immediately "in attempt to rectify the issue".

"More importantly, I have gained by being able to appreciate what are the parameters that are relevant to Singapore sportsmen," he added.

Mothership has reached out to Janjua for comments.

Top photos via Saad Khan Janjua/LinkedIn & Instagram