In cricket, match-fixing violates the game's rules and often the law. In specific, cricketers have been approached by bookmakers and bribed to throw matches or aspects of matches or provide other information. The ban is imposed by the International Cricket Council or the respective cricket council(s) to which the player belongs. A ban is a punishment for match-fixing or spot-fixing. Both are crimes under the ICC Cricket Code of Conduct. Here are the top 10 life-banned cricketers in the world.
1. Saleem Malik
Saleem Malik was born on 16 April 1963. He is a former Pakistan cricket player. He was the skipper of the Pakistan cricket team. He was a right-handed middle-order batsman. His bowling was very efficient as well. He is the first international cricketer to be banned for match-fixing around the 21st century. Saleem is the stepbrother of ex-teammate Ijaz Ahmed. He got banned in 2000 for bribery. Saleem is the first cricket player to be imprisoned.
2. Ata-Ur-Rehman
Ata-ur-Rehman was born on 28 March 1975. He is a Pakistani cricket player who played in 13 Tests and 30 ODIs from 1992 to 1996. He is a right-arm fast-medium with good control of line and length and the ability to move the old ball. He made his debut for Pakistan on their 1992 tour of England when he was only 17. His last match for Pakistan was held in Edgbaston on 31 August 1996. He was suspended for life in 2000 for dealings with bookmakers.
3. Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin was born 8 Feb 1963. He is affectionately known as Azzu in the Cricket Fraternity. Azhar is an Indian politician and a former cricketer. He is the Chair of the Labor Committee of the Congress of Telangana. He was selected to the Lok Sabha in Moradabad. He was a stylish middle-order batsman. In 2012, the High Court of Andhra Pradesh outlawed the commission. He was arrested in 2000 for associating with bookmakers and providing some information to bookies, and introducing Hansie Cronje to gambling.
4. Ajay Sharma
Ajay Sharma is an ex-Indian cricket player. In 2000, his career ended when he got a lifetime ban on cricket. He was involved in a match-fixing scandal. The court has asked the BCCI to allow him to participate in the board's activities and some domestic tournaments. He retired from active cricket and is now involved in managing several UClean brand laundry and dry cleaning franchises in Delhi, NCR, and Punjab.
5. Hansie Cronje
Wessel Johannes "Hansie" Cronje was born on 25 September 1969. He was a South African international cricket player and captain of his National Cricket Team. He was elected the 11th greatest South African. But he got banned from cricket for life due to his role in a match-fixing scandal. He died in an aircraft accident in 2002. He was guilty of accepting money rewards from bookmakers to provide essential information and match-fixing.
6. Danish Kaneria
Danish Prabha Shanker Kaneria was born on 16 December 1980. He is a former Pakistani cricketer who played for the Pakistan National Cricket Team from 2000 to 2010. A right-arm leg spinner is known for his well-defined googly. He is 4th on the list of bowlers with the most Test wickets for Pakistan. He became the 2nd Hindu after Anil Dalpat and the 7thnon-Muslim to represent Pakistan in international cricket. He was arrested in 2010 by police investigating "Match Irregularities" while playing for Essex but was clear of allegations. He appealed the decision in 2013, but the ban remained. In October 2018, Kaneria finally confessed that he was involved in the 2009 spot-fixing scandal.
7. Lou Vincent
Lou Vincent was born on 11 November 1978. He is a former New Zealand cricketer and opening batsman. He has represented NZ in Test matches, ODIS, and T20Is and played for Auckland in New Zealand domestic cricket and Worcestershire and Lancashire in English domestic cricket. He was initially banned for involving in match-fixing in the BPL for three years. But, he was subsequently banned for life after he accepted that he was guilty of game-fixing in Domestic Cricket.
8. TP Sudhindra
TP Sudhindra was born 24 April 1984. He is a first-class cricketer. He is a right-arm medium-pace bowler and bats left-handed. He was found guilty of spot-fixing in domestic matches. He played Ranji Trophy. He was banned for life after being found guilty in match-fixing.
9. Ankeet Chavan
Ankeet Chavan was born on 28 October 1985 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. He is a cricketer who played for Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket. He is a left-handed batter and slow left-arm bowler. He also played for Rajasthan in IPL. He was banned for his whole life after spot-fixing.
10. Ajit Chandila
Ajit Chandila was born 5 December 1983. He is a former Indian cricketer from Haryana. He played in IPL until 2013 but was previously known for playing in Air India's northern area team. He was banned for the rest of his life after spot-fixing. He was a good bowler for Rajasthan Royals.