Discover the stories of 10 renowned Cricketers Banned who faced lifetime bans for involvement in match-fixing scandals. Learn how these actions impacted their careers and the sport, as governing bodies took strict measures against corruption
10. Mohammad Azharuddin (Life ban – overturned in 2012)
Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin is revered as one of the leading captains that the Indian team has ever had. It would not be wrong to state that the men in blue started to flourish under his leadership in the late 90s. A prolific batsman renowned for his nonchalant wristwork, Azharuddin reportedly fell in the trap of match fixing. During the 2000 series against South Africa, he was alleged to have associations with bookies and was subsequently banned for life.
The reports claimed that he had introduced the South African skipper Hansie Cronje to betting. Also, spy revelations from Manoj Prabhakar for Tehelka proved to bring a lot of infamy to him. His story was later documented in Bollywood movie titled ‘Azhar’. It was on November 8, 2012 when his ban was overturned due to lack of evidences.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mohammad Azharuddin |
| Date of Birth | February 8, 1963 |
| Country | India |
| Role | Batsman |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| International Debut | Test: December 31, 1984 vs England ODI: January 20, 1985 vs England |
| Matches Played | Test: 99 ODI: 334 |
| Runs Scored | Test: 6,215 ODI: 9,378 |
| Centuries | Test: 22 ODI: 7 |
| Fifties | Test: 21 ODI: 58 |
| Highest Score | Test: 199 ODI: 153* |
| Bowling | Occasional bowler, no notable records |
| Captaincy | Indian captain from 1989 to 1999 |
| Controversy | Banned for life in 2000 due to match-fixing allegations |
| Ban Overturned | 2012 (Ban overturned by the Andhra Pradesh High Court) |
9. Ajay Sharma (Life ban – Lifted in 2014)
During the time when Mohammad Azharuddin found his name in the match fixing scandal, another cricketer who was handed a life ban was Ajay Sharma. He was found guilty for having associations with the bookies in the year 2000. Other cricketers like Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar were handed five year bans in the same case.
It was a disappointing end to a very promising batsman’s career. He averaged close to 68 in First Class cricket and had amassed 10120 runs. However, his involvement in the case saw his Test career curtailed after having played only 1 Test. The ban was lifted in the year 2014 by the BCCI.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Ajay Sharma |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Career Span | 1988 – 1993 |
| Role | All-rounder |
| International Debut | 1988 (One Day International) |
| ODI Matches | 1 |
| First-Class Matches | 129 |
| First-Class Runs | 10,120 |
| First-Class Average | 67.46 |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-break |
| Ban | Life Ban (imposed in 2000) |
| Ban Lifted | 2014 |
| Reason for Ban | Involvement in match-fixing allegations |
8. Ata-ur-Rehman (Life ban – Lifted in 2006)
Pakistan has been famous for producing quality fast bowlers in the world cricket. Ata-ur-Rehman was one such name that burst out on the big stage in the early 1990s. He was known for maintaining his line and lengths combined with brisk pace.
He made his debut for Pakistan in the year 1992 at the bare age of 17. He was banned by the ICC and was handed a life ban for his dealings with the bookmakers in the year 2000. It was the time when the ICC had a major crackdown at the match fixing claims and allegations. Later in 2007, he was freed of all charges by the ICC but he did not make a comeback to the game.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ata-ur-Rehman |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Playing Role | Right-arm Fast Bowler |
| International Debut | 1992 |
| Test Matches Played | 13 |
| ODI Matches Played | 30 |
| Total Wickets | 31 (Test), 27 (ODI) |
| Ban Imposed | Life Ban in 2000 |
| Reason for Ban | Involvement in Match-Fixing |
| Ban Status | Lifted in 2006 |
| Post-Ban Career | No significant return to international cricket |
7. Saleem Malik (Life ban – Lifted in 2008)
The iconic middle-order batsman Saleem Malik’s name goes down in the world of cricket as the first cricketer ever to be jailed for his associations with the bookies. He was one of the few players who could easily negotiate the turn of Shane Warne with ease. He was the first player to be banned from all forms of the game for match fixing.
It was Justice Qayyum’s inquiry that found him guilty. Later, players like Mark Waugh and Shane Warne testified the fact that Malik had tried to convince them to throw away the 1994-95 Karachi Test. He questioned the ban in the year 2001 but the Lahore High Court rejected his plea. The ban was eventually lifted by a lower court in the year 2008.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Saleem Malik |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Role | Batsman |
| Career Span | 1981 – 1999 |
| Test Matches | 103 |
| ODI Matches | 283 |
| Total Runs (Test) | 5,768 |
| Total Runs (ODI) | 7,170 |
| Batting Average | 43.69 (Test), 32.88 (ODI) |
| Major Achievement | First cricketer banned for match-fixing |
| Ban Duration | Lifetime (Lifted in 2008) |
| Reason for Ban | Involvement in match-fixing |
| Ban Lifted | 2008 |
6. Hansie Cronje (Life ban)
Former South African captain Hansie Cronje was found guilty of forecasting the international matches. His associations with the bookmakers surfaced the media during the year 2000 when the Proteas played the Indian team.
It was during the same time when Mohammad Azharuddin was also named in the scandal. Cronje had stated that he was introduced to the bookies by the then Indian captain. As per some reports, Cronje had later admitted to the offence as well. Before the case could be further investigated, Hansie Cronje died in a plane crash in the following year.
| Player | Country | Career Span | Matches (Tests/ODIs) | Role | Ban Reason | Ban Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hansie Cronje | South Africa | 1992 – 2000 | 68 Tests / 188 ODIs | Batsman, Captain | Involved in match-fixing scandal | Life Ban |
5. S Sreesanth (Life ban – Acquitted in 2015)
Indian pace bowler S Sreesanth faced a life ban from the BCCI for his alleged involvement in the spot fixing scandal of the IPL 2013. He was alleged to have bowled no balls at will and some proof tapes suggested the same as he was seen placing his hand towels in a particular position before bowling every no ball.
He questioned the life ban and the Delhi police, along with the local court, acquitted him of all charges in the year 2015. However, the BCCI continues to stand firm in their stance of handing him the life ban for his involvement in the scandal during his stint with the Rajasthan Royals.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shanthakumaran Sreesanth |
| Country | India |
| Role | Right-arm fast bowler |
| International Debut | 2005 (ODI), 2006 (Test) |
| Last International Match | 2011 |
| Major Teams | India, Kerala, Rajasthan Royals (IPL) |
| Notable Achievements | Part of India’s 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squads |
| Life Ban Imposed | 2013 (for spot-fixing in IPL) |
| Acquitted | 2015 |
| Ban Revoked | 2019 (eligible to play from September 2020) |
| Total Matches Played | Tests: 27, ODIs: 53, T20Is: 10 |
| Total Wickets | Tests: 87, ODIs: 75, T20Is: 7 |
4. Shariful Haque (Indefinite Period)
Former Bangladeshi quick bowler Shariful Haque was banned for an indefinite period by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The BCB President had confirmed the same during a press interaction in the year 2012.
Apparently, it was his involvement in spot fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League in 2012 that saw him being banned. The allegations were confirmed and substantiated by veteran cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza. “He [Shariful] will not be allowed to take part in any cricketing activities in the country in any capacity,” AHM Mustafa Kamal, the then board chief, had said.
| Player | Country | Ban Duration | Role | Career Highlights | Reason for Ban |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shariful Haque | Bangladesh | Indefinite | Batsman | Notable domestic performances; represented Bangladesh A | Match-fixing allegations during domestic tournaments |
3. Danish Kaneria (Life ban)
Danish Kaneria was once the primary spinner in the Pakistani lineup. Kaneria was renowned for extracting some serious turn in the subcontinental conditions. He soon lost favor of the selectors and then went to England to ply his trade for Essex in the English domestic season. Kaneria was then arrested by the police in the year 2012 for ‘match irregularities’.
He was later cleared of all allegations later. However, the ECB disciplinary panel found him guilty and handed him a life ban. The PCB agreed to abide by the decision. In the year 2013, Kaneria appealed against the ban but in vain.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Danish Kaneria |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Role | Leg-Spin Bowler |
| International Debut | 2000 (Test), 2001 (ODI) |
| Matches Played | Tests: 61, ODIs: 18 |
| Total Wickets | Tests: 261, ODIs: 15 |
| Ban Duration | Life Ban |
| Reason for Ban | Involvement in Spot-Fixing |
| Ban Imposed By | England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) |
| Career Highlights | 4th Highest Wicket-Taker for Pakistan in Tests |
2. Lou Vincent (Life ban)
Lou Vincent was a prolific middle-order batsman for New Zealand. For someone who has a Test high score of 224, allegations of match fixing came as a big surprise. He had his name dragged in such cases on multiple occasions. He had claimed that it was Chris Cairns who had offered him to fix matches.
Later, he was found guilty of not reporting the approaches made to him during the Bangladesh Premier League for three seasons. Also, he was found guilty of fixing matches in the English domestic circuit. It was after this when he was handed a life ban.
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Lou Vincent |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Role | Batsman |
| International Career | 2001–2007 |
| Format Played | Test, ODI, T20I |
| Test Matches | 23 |
| ODI Matches | 102 |
| T20I Matches | 9 |
| Match-Fixing Ban | Life Ban (2014) |
| Reason for Ban | Admitted to involvement in match-fixing during overseas T20 leagues |
| Impact on Career | Permanent exclusion from all cricket-related activities |
1. Gulam Bodi (20 Years!)
The name of South African cricketer Gulam Bodi seems to be an unusual name in the list of people being handed a life ban. Albeit he did not get a life ban, he did get a ban of 20 years from the Cricket South Africa! Well, that pretty much equates to a life ban nonetheless. Bodi was found guilty of fixing matches in the domestic T20 tournament of South Africa.
It was in the Ram Slam T20 Series in 2015 where he had reportedly fixed matches. The CSA had a major crackdown at the issue and handed him a ban of 20 years. Along with Bodi, the likes of Thami Tsolekile and Lonwabo Tsotsobe were also banned for specific time periods.
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| Player | Country | Career Span | Role | Major Teams Played For | Ban Duration | Reason for Ban |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulam Bodi | South Africa | 2007-2015 | All-rounder (Left-hand Bat, Left-arm Bowler) | South Africa, Domestic Teams | 20 years | Match-fixing and corruption |