OTD| Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, and Salman Butt came under scanner for match fixing during Lord’s Test in 2010

Fixing in cricket is not something that is new to the game. There have been multiple instances in the cricketing history where the teams or the players have been suspected and charged with this offense. But one such incident which caught the eyes of everyone was from the Pakistan cricket team. It was on this day when Pakistan players came under scanner for match-fixing at the time of Lord’s Test in 2010.

It was in England’s Test match against the Pakistan team, which was brought to light after the local police arrested a man who was supposedly at the center of a huge match-fixing scandal. There was an allegation that several players of the Pakistan national team were accused of match-fixing. Later on, it was discovered that the Pakistan skipper of that time, Salman Butt, along with pacers, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were accused of spot-fixing.

After the trials and everything from the tribunal, it was decided that Butt would be banned for 10 years, along with Mohammad Asif, who was banned for seven years, and Mohammad Amir, who was banned for five years after being found guilty of fixing in the Lord’s Test which was played against England.

Captain Butt received a significant sentence in the England series case, except for a dismissed charge of batting out a maiden over. But was also found guilty of not revealing an approach to bat the over. Amir and Asif were convicted of deliberate no-balls in the following Lord’s Test, with Butt also implicated. Amir plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while the others’ intentions are unclear.

The sentences that were imposed in the England series scandal were surprising, given expectations that it was a potential life ban. The left-hand batter who was 26 then could never return to cricket after that ban while 19-year-old Amir faced challenges with a long absence but was eventually back in the Pakistan side post all the allegations. Similarly, Asif who was 27 then, never returned to international cricket post that incident.