Singapore Cricket Association chief executive suspended from coaching for a year
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A 2022 photo shows Singapore Cricket Association chief executive Saad Khan Janjua posing with the WORLD T20i Cup in Singapore.
PHOTO: SCA FACEBOOK
Follow topic:
- Saad Khan Janjua, Singapore Cricket Association CEO, is suspended from coaching for one year by SportSG's Safe Sport Commission, effective from Sept 15.
- The suspension follows complaints from players alleging verbal abuse. SCA said it took Saad off coaching duties prior to the verdict.
- Saad remains SCA's CEO after completing a Safe Sport course. It conveyed to coaches that "passion to win matches must not translate to overzealousness".
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SINGAPORE – Singapore Cricket Association chief executive Saad Khan Janjua has been handed a one-year suspension from coaching by Sport Singapore’s (SportSG) Safe Sport Commission, effective from Sept 15.
The commission’s disciplinary database, which is available on its website, stated that from Sept 15, Janjua is suspended “from role of coach for one year and subject to fulfilling requirement for full NROC (National Registry of Coaches) membership”, adding that he is also “suspended from role as sport administrator, subject to completion of educational intervention”.
The sanction is meted out by the commission’s independent disciplinary panel, which handles moderate to severe cases of misconduct for member organisations under the Safe Sport programme.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the commission confirmed in a media statement on Sept 20 that Janjua has been given a one-year coaching ban. He is also barred from having any influence over the coaching of athletes selected for December’s SEA Games in Thailand.
It added that it received “reports of concern in August 2024 which were assessed to be a potential breach of the Safe Sport Unified Code”.
ST understands that Safe Sport acted after it received complaints from players who detailed verbal abuse directed at them.
Safe Sport noted that formal investigations commenced in October 2024 and concluded in February 2025. A disciplinary committee was convened the following month to review all evidence, including hearing from Janjua.
“Mr Janjua was also suspended from his role as a sport administrator, with reinstatement contingent upon completing the Safe Sport course for sport administrators,” added Safe Sport.
“This course educates sport administrators on Safe Sport principles and ensures they understand their responsibilities while establishing good Safe Sport policies and practices in their organisation. The suspension has since been lifted following his completion of the course.
“The course serves as educational intervention and national sports associations remain responsible for implementing appropriate safeguarding measures within their sports.”
Janjua, 51, a Pakistani-born Singaporean, is a former national cricketer who had also captained the side. According to his LinkedIn page, he has served as SCA’s director of coaching since 2010 and as chief executive since 2015.
He was also previously the national team manager.
SCA president Mahmood Gaznavi, when contacted earlier, confirmed the sanction and said the national cricket body will not take further action. He told ST that the general complaint was that Janjua had “been too hard on the national players”.
He added the complaints were from incidents that occurred before the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. That year, Singapore had defeated hosts Cambodia to claim the sixes gold medal for their second-ever SEA Games title. Saad was national team manager and mentor during that campaign.
Singapore’s men’s cricket team won gold in the sixes format at the Cambodia SEA Games in 2023.
PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE
He did not continue in that role after the Games, said Gaznavi, who added: “SCA was informed of the complaint some months back. Before the Safe Sport decision, SCA had taken Saad off coaching and allowed him to concentrate on other areas including the (handling of) West Coast cricket grounds.”
On Safe Sport’s decision, Gaznavi said that while SCA has “no quarrel with the decision”, Janjua will not step down as chief executive.
Gaznavi said: “He (Janjua) was not to perform any sport administrator’s role until he successfully completed a Safe Sport course for sports administrators. Saad informed me that he immediately completed the course. Hence, there is no suspension in force.
“I have sent Safe Sport an e-mail to seek verification that the course was successfully completed. SCA sees no need to supplement any other punitive measures because there is no reason for repeat sanctions.”
He, however, added that SCA has conveyed to all coaches that the “passion to win matches must not translate to overzealousness”.
“There is a line to be drawn between being determined to win and projecting one’s overwhelming enthusiasm over the players when victory is eluded,” said Gaznavi, who was re-elected last September as president of the SCA until 2027.
When approached for comment, Janjua said: “I take on board Safe Sport’s input and immediately attended the course in an 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.”
To clamp down on harassment and misconduct against athletes, the Safe Sport Commission was established in 2019 by national agency SportSG.
After nine months of consultation with over 200 experts, athletes, parents and stakeholders, the commission launched the Safe Sport Unified Code in 2021 to provide the sporting community clear guidelines on what constitutes inappropriate behaviour.
