Cricket in Pakistan has often balanced between success and scandal, with the sport’s intense passion matched by the size of the controversies that have shaken its core.
Whether on the field or off, Pakistan cricket has faced challenges that range from surprising on-field incidents to off-field dramas more intense than any soap opera.
Here’s a closer look at the top five controversies that have impacted Pakistan cricket.
5. Shahid Afridi’s Infamous Ball-Biting Incident
Shahid Afridi tampering the ball in 2010
In a January 2010 ODI at the WACA, Pakistan’s stand-in captain, Shahid Afridi, was filmed biting the ball several times as Australia needed 35 runs from 30 balls. The TV umpire alerted the on-field umpires, who then changed the ball and reprimanded Afridi.
After Australia narrowly won, Afridi admitted his actions to the match referee and apologized. Despite this, he was quickly banned for two T20 Internationals.
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4. Bob Woolmer’s Untimely Death
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Bob Woolmer’s death still remains a mystery
On March 18, 2007, the cricket world was shaken when Pakistan’s head coach, Bob Woolmer, was found unconscious in his hotel bathroom in Jamaica, shortly after Pakistan’s unexpected loss to Ireland in the 2007 ICC World Cup.
Despite immediate medical efforts, Woolmer couldn’t be revived, leading to widespread speculation and a detailed investigation by Jamaican police. However, the cause of his death remained unclear.
There were rumors that Woolmer was about to reveal the dark side of cricket, involving match-fixing and bookies, causing some to believe that this may have played a role in his sudden death.
3. Shoaib Akhtar & Mohammad Asif’s Suspension for Doping
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Shoaib Akhtar & Mohammad Asif were banned for doping
In a major doping scandal, Pakistan’s top bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, was banned for two years, and his teammate Mohammad Asif was suspended for one year on November 1, 2006.
This decision came from a three-member doping tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board, which found both players guilty of using the banned steroid nandrolone.
The scandal first emerged on October 16, when both players were pulled out of the Champions Trophy in India after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug.
2. The 2006 Oval Test Forfeit Controversy
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Inzamam-ul-Haq’s Pakistan forfeited the Test after they were accused of ball tampering
During the 2006 Oval Test, a significant incident occurred on the fourth day when umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove accused Pakistan of tampering with the ball, resulting in a penalty of five runs for England.
The Pakistani team, led by Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, considered these allegations baseless and offensive. In protest, they refused to come back onto the field after the tea break.
As the delay extended, the umpires decided this constituted a forfeit according to cricket regulations, leading to an unusual decision to grant victory to England.
This was the first time in the 130-year history of Test cricket that a match was forfeited, sparking extensive debate and controversy about the situation and the way it was handled.
1. 2010 Spot-Fixing Scandal
Mohammad Amir deliberately bowling a no-ball
The 2010 spot-fixing scandal is one of the darkest moments in cricket history. While the Pakistan team was touring England, serious accusations surfaced, linking key players to a spot-fixing scheme.
The controversy centered around then-captain Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif, and young Mohammad Amir. They were exposed in a sting operation conducted by a tabloid newspaper in collaboration with a bookmaker. The players were caught on camera deliberately bowling no-balls during the Lord’s Test, with the evidence strongly supporting the claims.
The shocking revelations rocked the cricket community, leading to intense scrutiny and trials. By November 2011, all three players were sentenced to prison and handed lengthy bans from cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC). This scandal not only ruined their careers but also severely damaged the reputation of Pakistan cricket.
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