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Newsmakers of the Week MAY 15, 2026 | The Indian Eye 32

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

VIVEK RAMASWAMY MONTY DESAI

Republican wins GOP nomination Veteran appointed men’s cricket

for Ohio Governor team head coach of Canada

olumbus, OH: Indian-origin Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy has oronto, ON: Cricket Canada has appointed Monty Desai as Head Coach
secured the party nomination for the post of Ohio Governor, according of the Men’s National Team, announced the country’s governing body
Cto a CBS News projection following Tuesday’s primary election. Tof cricket on Friday. Following Canada’s participation in the ICC Men’s
The biotech billionaire’s victory sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown in T20 World Cup 2026 and ahead of key upcoming ICC pathway competitions,
November against Democrat Amy Acton, the former director of the Ohio Depart- this appointment is being seen as a strategic step toward building momentum
ment of Public Health, who advanced through the primary without opposition. and achieving greater international consistency.
The path to the nomination opened up significantly for the candidate af- “Our foremost priority is to restore Cricket Canada’s prominence through
ter several high-profile contenders exited the race. performance, professionalism, and a renewed and vitalised sense of purpose,”
According to CBS News, the 2025 Republican field was initially expect- said Arvinder Khosa, President of Cricket Canada, as quoted by a press release.
ed to feature Attorney General Dave Yost and former Ohio State University “Appointing Monty Desai reflects this vision. His experience with Associate
football coach Jim Tressel. nations, most notably Nepal and Afghanistan, demonstrates his ability to trans-
However, Yost withdrew after the state Republican Party and Donald Trump form teams through effective leadership, discipline, and a clear long-term plan.
threw their weight behind Ramaswamy, while Tressel chose not to enter the As we build on our recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup appearance, this year
contest, effectively “clearing the field” for the former presidential contender. marks a pivotal moment, and we are confident that under his leadership, the
In Tuesday’s polling, the Republican nominee comfortably defeated Ca- team will make significant progress,” he added.
sey Putsch, a small business owner popularly known by the nickname “The Desai brings over 20 years of international coaching experience, including
Car Guy.” leading Nepal to regain ODI status and qualify for multiple ICC global events.
CBS News reports that while Morgan County school board member He is widely respected for instilling belief, structure, and competitive discipline
Heather Hill was also on the ballot, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that votes in emerging cricket nations.
for her would not be counted. “I am honoured to take on this responsibility and thank Cricket Canada for
This decision followed the withdrawal of her running mate, as state law their trust,” said Monty Desai. “My previous experience in Canada has given
requires candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to “run together.” me a clear understanding of the system’s potential and the passion that exists
The political ascent of the Indian-origin leader follows his 2024 bid for for the game. Associate cricket is an important driver in the global growth of
the Republican presidential nomination, which transformed him into a prom- cricket today, and teams like Nepal and Afghanistan have demonstrated what
inent national figure. belief, discipline, and fearlessness can unlock. Canada has a similar opportuni-
Following that campaign, he emerged as a steadfast ally of Donald Trump ty, and my focus will be on building a culture that translates this potential into
and was originally appointed to co-lead the Department of Government Effi- consistent performances on the international stage.”
ciency, or “DOGE,” alongside Elon Musk. This appointment aligns with Cricket Canada’s broader commitment to
However, CBS News notes that he departed the “job-slashing depart- strengthening the foundations of the sport through renewed accountability, en-
ment” just one day after the presidential inauguration to “focus on running hanced player development pathways, and an environment that supports long-
for office.” term growth. “We warmly welcome Monty to Cricket Canada,” said Paramjit
Financial disclosures indicate that the campaign enters the general elec- Saini, Secretary, Cricket Canada. “His track record with teams such as Nepal
tion with a massive war chest, having raised 5 million dollars in early 2026 and and Afghanistan speaks for itself. He has helped Associate nations become
provided a 25-million-dollar personal loan. competitive forces, and we are committed to providing full support as we work
This gives the candidate approximately 30 million dollars in “cash on together to elevate Canadian cricket.”
hand,” a figure consistent with an earlier pledge to Fox News to “donate $30 With crucial international fixtures ahead, Canada aims to build consisten-
million” to the bid. cy, credibility, and a stronger reputation on the world stage.

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