One-year coaching suspension for Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) chief executive Saad Khan Janjua is just not enough.
That’s the strong sentiment from several national players, who say the sanction was too lenient and has “left players disillusioned about the system meant to protect us.”
Investigations ran from October 2024 to February 2025, with a disciplinary committee reviewing the case in March.
For the players who came forward, the outcome feels like little more than a slap on the wrist.
“While we welcome the decision that he (Janjua) was found guilty under the Safe Sport Code of Conduct, the sentence was very light, with minimal impact.
“The SCA can operate business as usual,” said one national cricketer, speaking on behalf of the group.
“Despite enduring years of racial, verbal and mental abuse, the only consequence was effectively a ban lasting less than a week.
“It is as though nothing has changed, and he has returned as if nothing happened.”
Another player added: “The state of Singapore cricket is at its all-time worst, and this decision has left players disillusioned about the system meant to protect us.”
On 16 September, TMSG first reported that Janjua had been suspended by the Safe Sport Commission from coaching for one year, and from his role as sport administrator until he completed an “educational intervention.”
Complaints from players revealed that Janjua had allegedly used racial slurs such as “BLACKIE” and “BLACK DUSTBIN”, along with profanities, in interactions with them.
Safe Sport’s disciplinary database has listed Janjua as suspended from his role of coach for one year and subject to fulfilling the requirement for full National Registry of Coaches membership effective 16 September.
His suspension from sport administration has since been lifted after he completed the mandatory course.
The Safe Sport Commission, which operates under Sport Singapore, said it received “reports of concern” in August 2024 that were deemed possible breaches of the Safe Sport Unified Code.
Janjua, 51, is a Pakistan-born Singaporean who once captained the national team. He has been SCA’s director of coaching since 2010 and its chief executive since 2015.
SCA president Mahmood Gaznavi confirmed that no further sanctions will be imposed.
“Safe Sport’s decision binds all parties, and we are duty-bound to implement it,” he said.
PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE