Mohammad Amir - (Source: X)
On Monday, reports emerged that the PCB is investigating a match-fixing angle behind the recent performance in England that rocked Pakistan cricket. The apex cricket board of Pakistan has confiscated the phones of Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammed Rizwan, who are two of the seven players who have been sent back home.
If proven guilty, the PCB is mulling a serious fine or even a ban for breaching disciplinary codes set by the board and ICC. These allegations are not new to Pakistan cricket. In their 74 years of history, there have been several instances of Pakistan players getting caught in such scandals.
Therefore, this article will shed light on the list of Match-Fixing scandals that have rocked Pakistan cricket in the past.
1. Saleem Malik, Ata-ur-Rehman - 1994/95
During Australia's tour of Pakistan in 1994, Australia's Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, and Tim May, alleged that Pakistan captain Saleem Malik offered them bribes to throw matches and lose on purpose.
The players reported the issue and the PCB formed a committiee led by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum.
The final report found Saleem Malik guilty of organising and attempting to fix matches and bribe players. Fast bowler Ata-ur-Rehman was also found to be part of the scandal. Notably, legendary figures like Wasim Akram was also under the scanner but was just fined and cleared due to lack of definitive proof, though severely censured.
Salim Malik was handed a life ban from cricket for match-fixing, and Ata-ur-Rehman received a multi-year ban.
2. Danish Kaneria - 2012
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was found guilty of corruption while playing county cricket for Essex in English domestic matches.
During a September 2009 Pro40 match between Essex and Durham, Kaneria introduced his younger teammate, Mervyn Westfield, to an illegal bookmaker/match fixer. Westfield accepted thousands of pounds to spot-fix the match, an action that later landed Westfield a four-month prison sentence in 2012
Eventually, The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned Kaneria for life in 2012 for forcing his teammate to meet bookmaker.
3. Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir - Lord’s, 2010
Undercover reporters from the News of the World exposed a betting ring. Fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and 18-year-old Mohammad Amir bowled intentional no-balls at exact, pre-determined moments in the Lord's Test vs England.
Also Read: Imam-Ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan Fear Ban As PCB Investigate Imam, Rizwan's Mobile Content
Investigations revealed that captain Salman Butt and Majeed orchestrated the plan, pressuring the younger players into participating.
In February 2011, the International Cricket Council banned Salman Butt for 10 years, Mohammad Asif for 7 years, and Mohammad Amir for 5 years4. Sharjeel Khan - 5-Year Ban
4. Sharjeel Khan - The 2017 PSL Scandal
While playing for Islamabad United against Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai, Sharjeel was accused of accepting a deal from bookmakers to deliberately dot two consecutive deliveries and score only a single run off four balls.
An anti-corruption tribunal handed him a five-year ban, with two and a half years of the sentence suspended. In August 2019, Sharjeel issued an unconditional apology to the Pakistan Cricket Board, completed a rehabilitation program, and subsequently returned to domestic and international cricket after serving his penalty.
Also Read: India, Pakistan In A Tri Series! When Was The Last Time It Happened?
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