Phones confiscated, players sent home: Riots on Pakistan tour of England revive memories of Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif in 2010 over Lord’s spot-fixing scandal

Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif watch the feed on the big screen during the second day of the 4th Test match between England and Pakistan at Lord’s on August 27, 2010 in London, England. (left) and an archive photo of the front cover of the News of the World newspaper. (Photo/Getty Images) England has not often been a happy place for Pakistan cricket in recent times. In the ongoing three-Test series, Pakistan have already lost the first two matches by wide margins. They suffered an innings defeat in the series opener at Headingley before losing the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs. The third Test is due to start at Edgbaston on Wednesday.However, what followed the defeat at Lord’s surprised even those familiar with the unpredictable nature of Pakistan cricket.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent home seven players and called up another seven, five of whom were at uncapped Test level.The PCB also removed Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. They were replaced by Pakistan white-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.Salman Ali Agha, who captained Pakistan at Headingley in the absence of the injured Babar Azam, was among those sent home. Left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who took five wickets in this Test, was also dismissed.Experienced wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and opener Imam-ul-Haq were also asked to leave. Imam did not bat in any innings at Lord’s due to a calf injury.Hesson admitted last week that the changes had added to the uncertainty around the team.“Guys are probably more used to a little bit of chaos than I am. I don’t think anybody wants that to happen in the middle of a series.”The situation took a further turn on Monday when the PCB announced an investigation into the team’s conduct during the England tour, bringing the issue of match-fixing back into the limelight.As reported by TimesofIndia.com, the changes in Pakistan cricket were due to reasons that were “more than cricket” and were not just a reaction to the team’s poor performances.According to Pakistani outlet 365 News, the players’ devices have been handed over to the PCB and will remain in the board’s custody until the final Test is completed. The report did not reveal which players’ phones were confiscated, while the PCB did not publicly explain why the devices were confiscated.

Horror of 2010

The development also brought back memories of Pakistan’s 2010 spot-fixing scandal, one of cricket’s biggest corruption cases.The scandal took place during Pakistan’s tour of England, during the fourth Test at Lord’s. It centered on allegations that Pakistani players deliberately bowled balls at certain points in the match in exchange for money.When Mohammad Amir crossed the wicket while bowling a no-ball against England on the opening day of the 2010 Lord’s Test, there were no signs that the moment would become part of a scandal that would affect Pakistan cricket for years.Two days later, it emerged that three no-balls – two from Amir and one from his sidekick Mohammad Asif – were part of the betting arrangement.Pakistan captain Salman Butt arranged a deliberate no-ball in exchange for money offered by undercover journalist Mazhar Majeed posing as a bookie.The scandal, uncovered by Britain’s now-defunct tabloid News of the World, rocked the world of cricket and the aftershocks could be felt in Pakistan for more than a decade. Not only did that dark morning at the revered ‘home of cricket’ derail the careers of three players who were suspended and jailed, but the saga also led to calls for Pakistan to be kicked out of international cricket. Butt, Amir and Asif were tried at a London court for offenses under the Gambling Act and jailed in November 2011.When announcing the sentences, the judge emphasized the seriousness of the crime. “The image and integrity of what was once a game but is now a business has been damaged in the eyes of everyone, including the many young people who saw the three of you as heroes,” Judge Jeremy Cooke said. It marked a new low for Pakistan cricket, which was already reeling after the terror attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore a year ago that prompted the suspension of domestic internationals.In November 2011, after a high-profile trial in London, all three players were found guilty of corruption and conspiracy to receive illegal payments. Salman Butt received 30 months in prison, Mohammad Asif was jailed for a year and Mohammad Amir was sentenced to six months due to his age and early confession.Only one of them, Amir, returned to international cricket after serving an ICC ban when he returned in 2016.