Pakistan cricket still in fix after the Lord's scandal
Updated On: 06 June, 2020 08:44 AM IST | Karachi | AFP
Ten years since the Lord's scandal saw Mohd Amir, Mohd Asif and Salman Butt pulled up for fixing, Asian cricketing giant continues to reel under the after-effects of corruption.
Listen to this article :
Tainted Pakistan cricketers (left to right) Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and cricket agent Mazhar Majeed. pic/Getty Images
When Mohammad Amir bowled a no-ball against England on the opening day of the 2010 Test at Lord's, no one could have imagined his long stride past the crease marked the first step in a historic fixing scandal. Two days later it was revealed that three no-balls—two by Amir, and one by his pace partner Mohammad Asif—had been part of a shady betting deal. Pakistan captain Salman Butt had orchestrated the deliberate no-balls in return for money offered by undercover journalist Mazhar Majeed posing as a bookmaker.
The scandal, exposed in the sting by Britain's now-defunct News of the World tabloid, rocked the cricketing world, and aftershocks can still be felt a decade on in Pakistan. Not only did that dark morning at the revered Home of Cricket derail the careers of three players, who were banned and jailed, the saga also led to calls for Pakistan to be booted from international cricket. Butt, Amir and Asif were tried in a London court for offences under the Gambling Act and jailed in November 2011. Announcing the sentences, the judge Jeremy Cooke said: "The image and integrity of what was once a game but is now a business, is damaged in the eyes of all, including the many youngsters who regarded three of you as heroes."
Read Next Story
Trending Stories
Latest Photos
Latest Videos
Latest Web Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Mid-Day Fast
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT