Match fixing in cricket or any sport is the practice of achieving a pre decided result. It often takes place by going against the rules and laws of the sport. There are many ways by which match fixing is done. This scandal involves well-known cricketers who were banned for match-fixing in cricket history.
When a match is fixed, a player might play poorly to alter the result. Players might be involved in taking bribes from bookmakers or bettors.
The ultimate motive of fixing is to gain an unfair advantage over others.
HISTORY
Match Fixing has come up several times throughout history of several sports. It probably was recorded in the Ancient Olympics for the first time.
Signs of fixing taking place were also evident in 1860s and 1870s in Baseball. In cricket too, it was noted that around the 1800s, fixing was at a high.
The bookies would catch hold of any young cricketer, buy them their drinks and then go on to discuss money.
Each and every sportsperson who was caught fixing was given a disgraceful exit from the sport.
LIST OF WELL-KNOWN CRICKETERS WHO WERE BANNED FOR MATCH-FIXING IN CRICKET
Hansie Cronje
On 7 April 2000, it was found out that Hansie Cronje was in touch with Sanjeev Chawla. Chawla was a part of the Indian betting syndicate.
Several conversations between them were leaked to the Indian Police. Three other South African players, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje, and Pieter Strydom were also named in this incident.
On first instance, Cronje had denied all the allegations but later confessed to it while put under scrutiny.
He revealed that he had taken a huge amount of money to either under- perform or alter the course of the game.
Cronje was immediately banned from playing or coaching for a lifetime. He even challenged his life ban but to no avail. Cronje died in a plane crash two years later.
The media speculated that he might have been killed due to him revealing a lot of details regarding the bookies.
Under his captaincy, South Africa won 27 Tests and lost 11 and in ODIs he had 99 wins out of 138 matches.
With such an elegant record, one could only think as to why he went down the fixing route.
Mohammad Azharuddin
He was involved in a match fixing scandal in 2000. There are several reports that state the he was the one who introduced Hansie Cronje to the bookies.
Azharuddin’s connections to the Mumbai underworld were brought into light. He was instantly banned by both the ICC and BCCI,.
However, in 2012, the BCCI lifted their ban but the ICC has refused to do so.
Azharuddin has over 15,000 international runs and 29 International centuries to his name.
Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir
The scandal occurred during a test match at Lord’s vs England in 2010. Reports from News Of The World, a weekly newspaper got in touch with Mazhar Majeed, a bookmaker.
Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir were named in the investigation. All maintained their silence but the ICC suspended them almost immediately.
The next year it was announced that Butt was banned for 10 years, Asif for 7 and Amir for 5 years.
This scandal almost tainted the lives of all three cricketers involved. Mohd Amir, however tried to make a comeback into the international circuit but it was short lived.
Amir has lost his prime years serving the ban.
IPL Spot Fixing Controversy of well-known cricketers who were banned for match-fixing in cricket
Delhi Police arrested three cricketers, Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, on the charges of alleged spot-fixing during the 2013 IPL.
Reports subsequently emerged of how Sreesanth used his towel as a code for the bookies.
The IPL governing council had decided to deal with this severely. All the cricketers had taken money to underperform.
All of them had received life ban from the BCCI but Sreesanth’s life ban was lifted in 2019.
If not for this controversy, Sreesanth was one of most aggressive and passionate first bowlers of the country and would have surely done a lot better than serving a ban.
Salim Malik
Salim Malik was known to be a fearless batsman who played for the Pakistan National Team. All was well until he was found to be involved in bribery and match fixing.
He was first accused of bribery and then found innocent and continued to play for the team.
Salim was however found guilty of match fixing soon after and was imposed a life ban.
He ended his career in disgrace. His ban was lifted in 2008 and has since been looking for a coaching role.
CONSLUSION
It is gut-wrenching to witness good players lose their careers to match fixing. For earning some extra bucks, losing your ability to earn anymore is really silly.
This practice has haunted both the players and the fans for decades now.
Proper measure and awareness are some of the key factors where boards need to work upon.
One might think that it is close to impossible to fix games in this era, only to find out the name of a new player who gets caught.
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