Cricket is a bat-and-ball game, played between two teams with eleven players each. This game is also known as the game of gentlemen. But here are some cricketers who ICC banned. There must be some reasons why these top 10 cricketers were banned. Some were banned due to corruption, some for match-fixing, and some for exploiting the anti-doping code. It may be seen as impossible, but some old and experienced cricketers are also not safe to such banns. So here, we’ll look at these 10 famous cricketers who were banned for the following reasons.
1. Sreesanth
Sreesanth is India’s most excellent Indian fast bowler. He is a right-arm fast-medium-pace bowler and a right-handed tail-ender batsman. Last he played in the Indian premier league (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals. His test debut was on 1st March 2006 vs. England, his ODI debut was on 25th October 2005 vs. Sri Lanka, and his T20I debut was on 1st February 2008 vs. Australia. On one fine day, May 13, 2013, S. Sreesanth was outlawed by spot-fixing during an IPL game. Later, he owned up and confessed to the charges. He felt blameworthy for acquiring a total of Rs. 40 lakhs for fixing a no-ball that he bowled in a match of IPL against Kings XI Punjab. Then he got arrested by Delhi Police in the case of fixing scandal. He must be grateful that he was relieved of the charges due to lack of evidence. As most of the audience doesn’t know what the spot-fixing is. So, here’s the answer- spot-fixing or match-fixing is almost same, it means deciding the results in advance for some aspect of the match. It is a kind of position bet. This can also be done for a single delivery as S. Sreesanth was fixed for one delivery. It is a give-and-take agreement mutually agreed upon by both the player and the bookmaker, where both benefit. Sreesanth was banned for seven years. Recently speaking to The New Indian Express, S. Sreesanth said that he is passionate about bowling and will get back to the pace. He adjoins that he loves and enjoys bowling.
2. Ajay Sharma
Ajay Sharma is remembered as the most productive but cursed cricketer whose career will be a disappointment. Sharma scored 10,000 runs in first-class cricket, and he was considered to be a great domestic batsman. Still, unfortunately, he represented India only once in a test match that was held in January 1988. His test debut in 1987-1988 was Hirwani’s match. In the year 2000, Ajay Sharma was 36 by age, and his career came to an end when he got a life ban from cricket after being involved in a match-fixing scandal. The fixing scandal outlawed Sharma. He also associated with bookmakers. He was banned for 5 years, as he was alleged to have associated with bookmakers. But, he found it sinful to have associated with bookmakers. He was cleared from all the charges in September 2014 related to match-fixing by the Delhi court, and he also asked BCCI to be a part of the board’s activities. But now he got retired from active cricket.
3. Dilhara Lokuhettige
Dilhara Lokuhettige was born on July 03, 1980 in Colombo. He played for Sri Lanka. He was a right-hand batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler. His last ODI was on 9th July vs. India, and his last T20I was on 12th October 2008 vs. Canada. Dilhara Lokuhettige received an 8-year ban in April 2019, as he was found guilty of rupturing the ICC’s anti-corruption code of three counts. He had patronized several anti-corruption education sessions and was charged under the ICC Anti-corruption code in November 2019 for his entangled in the match-fixing during the T20 tournament in UAE in 2017, where the Sri Lankan team participated. As he was active in match-fixing, ICC banned him for 8 years.
4. Heath Streak
Heath Streak was born on 16 March 1974. He is a former cricketer of Zimbabwe and a Zimbabwean coach and captain of the Zimbabwe national cricket team. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler. His test debut was on 1st December 1993 vs. Pakistan and ODI debut was on 10th November 1993 vs. India. He is the foremost Zimbabwean bowler to have taken over 100 test wickets. He was part of the golden era of Zimbabwe cricket between 1997 to 2002. Heath Streak, the former captain of Zimbabwe, has also been banned by ICC for 8-years for the scandal of corruption. He was found guilty of directly and indirectly encouraging, inducing, and intentionally being part of match-fixing / corruption. He got a ban from cricket for 8 years. Streak got in touch with an Indian bookie, and their WhatsApp chat got leaked, where the bookie asked Streak if he would be interested as he could earn some good money from it. In September 2017, the chat got leaked, and, Streak has been banned for 8-years.
5. Mohammad Asif
Mohammad Asif, born on 20th December 1982, is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in the Pakistan national cricket team between 2005 and 2010. He played first-class cricket. His test debut was on 3rd January 2005 vs. Australia, and his ODI debut was on 21st December 2005 vs. England. Mohammad Asif, a 38year old right-arm pacer, eventually the best swing bowler of Pakistan, was found guilty of using a drug that was banned in 2006, Nandrolone. He was tested positive after the Pakistan cricket board (PCB) conducted tests internally at the end of the September; Shoaib Akhtar was also part of this controversy.
6. Yusuf Pathan
Born on 17th November 1982, Yusuf Pathan is a former Indian cricketer. He also plays first-class cricket. His younger brother Irfan Pathan is also a cricketer. Yusuf Pathan retired in February 2021. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm off-break bowler. His ODI debut was on 10th June 2008 vs. Pakistan, and his T20 debut was on 24th September 2007 vs. Pakistan. Yusuf Pathan is an all-rounder and spin bowler, but unfortunately, he was also banned for doping. He ingested a cough syrup that was a prohibited substance. His sample was tested positive, containing Terbutaline, the drug commonly found in cough syrups, banned by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). He has received a ban for 5 months for doping violations. His ban started on 15th August and ended on 14th January. On 9th January, 2018, he had received a letter of release statement.
7. Andre Russell
Andre Russell, born on 29th April, 1988 is a Jamaican professional cricketer who plays for West Indies. He is an all-rounder player. Russell played more than 300 T20 matches. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler. His ODI debut was on 11th March 2011 vs. Ireland, and his debut T20 was on 21st April 2011 vs. Pakistan. Andre Russell got banned in January 2017 for a year, as he was found guilty of using drugs; he tested positive in doping test and got banned for a year. He violated a code of doping. In 2015, he failed drugs test under WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) guidelines. The Jamaican Anti-doping Commission punished him.
8. Shane Warne
Shane Warne, born on 13th September 1969 is an Australian cricketer and former international cricketer who captained the Australian national cricket team. He is one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-break bowler. Shane Warne was also banned, as he was tested positive for the drug diuretic. This substance is used for weight-loss purposes. Shane Warne was banned for a year in 2003 after testing positive for a banned substance.
9. Shaiman Anwar
Shaiman Anwar, born on 15th March, 1979 is a former Emirati cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler. His ODI debut was on 1st February 2014 vs. Scotland, and his T20 debut was on 17th March 2014 vs. Netherlands. Shaiman Anwar, the player of UAE who ICC banned, was found guilty of attempting match-fixing during the 2019 T20 World Cup qualifying tournament. He was banned for eight years.
10. Nuwan Zoysa
Nuwan Zoysa, born on 13th May 1978, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He is a left-hand batsman and left-arm fast-medium bowler. His test debut was on 7th March 1997 vs. New Zealand, and his ODI debut was on 25th March 1997 vs. New Zealand. Nuwan Zoysa was also banned for Match-fixing. Zoysa was banned for six years under the ICC Anti-corruption code. In 2018 he was suspended and found guilty in the involvement of match-fixing. He was found directly and indirectly encouraging, inducing, and intentionally being a part of match-fixing.
