Most of the cricketers start to play cricket the game in childhood days in order to play for the country. Players should be aware of the fact that they are also role models for their fans.
However, there have been several occurrences when some cricketers have broken the integrity of the game and got involved match fixing. Here are some players who have been banned for match fixing:
1. Hansie Cronje
The former South African skipper was considered one of the most successful cricketers of their country before his involvement and condemned of match fixing. Cronje was sacked as skipper as he self-confessed that he was “not entirely honest” and forgot the integrity of the game. Cronje received a lifetime ban and died in a plane crash two years later after facing the ban.
2. Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin was involved in one of the biggest match fixing scandals of world cricket. He got banned for a lifetime after playing 99 tests for India and his career faced a full stop after he was involved in fixing games.
3. Manoj Prabhakar
During the 90s, former Indian all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar was one of the most crucial players in the Indian team and a lot of credit for that goes to his bowling abilities. His career was cut short when he was dropped from the 1996 World Cup. Manoj did try to involve Kapil Dev and other cricketers fixing but his plan backfired and he was handed a 5-year ban and after that, he decided to hang his boots.
4. Ajay Jadeja
Former Indian batsman Ajay Jadeja was one of the most popular Indian cricketers in Team India due to his good fielding and batting abilities. However, Jadeja was found guilty of match fixing after a CBI inquiry and was handed a ban for 5 years. His request was dismissed but he was allowed to play domestic cricket later.
5. Salman Butt
Salman Butt was one of the most promising batsmen for Pakistan, as he was a regular starter but later found guilty of spot fixing. Butt was severely criticized along with Mohammad Asif and a young Mohammad Amir after the England series of 2011.
6. Mohammad Amir
The brutal pacer Mohammad Amir was found guilty of spot-fixing back in 2010-11 and was banned for 5 years as he was just 19 at that time. He was forced by the seniors in the squad and bowled regular no-balls that would get him money from bookies later on.
7. Mohammad Ashraful
Bangladesh’s flamboyant batsman Ashraful was found guilty of match fixing in Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). He was handed over a ban of 5 years, and he is still serving that ban. On May 23, 2013, Ashraful made a witness statement to the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the ICC accepting that he was indulged in fixing the SLPL Match between Ruhunu Royals and Wayamba United played on August 26, 2012.
