2010 spot-fixing scandal and its aftermath
Here's a look back at the scandal that shook international cricket and the subsequent fall-out
PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
England and Pakistan are set to play their first Test on English soil since the 2010 spot-fixing scandal when they meet at Lord's on Thursday.
Below AFP Sport looks back at the scandal that shook cricket and the subsequent fall-out:
2010
Aug 28: Britain's now defunct News of the World tabloid alleges that teenage sensation Mohammad Amir, Pakistan new-ball partner Mohammad Asif and captain Salman Butt agreed to bowl no-balls in return for payment as part of a betting scam in the Lord's Test against England.
Sep 02: The three Pakistan players are provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council.
Sep 19: A bitter one-day international series becomes even more acrimonious when Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt accuses England of deliberately losing the third match at The Oval.
Sep 20: England batsman Jonathan Trott and Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz have any angry exchange in the Lord's nets before the start of the fourth ODI. Trott later apologised to the Pakistanis. England go on to win the series 3-2.
Warning for English press: Play mind games but at your own risk: Aaqib
2011
Feb 02: Ijaz Butt retracts his remarks about England's defeat at The Oval
Feb 05 The ICC ban Salman Butt for 10 years (five suspended), Asif for seven years (two suspended) and Amir for five years.
Sep 16: Amir pleads guilty to accepting corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat.
Nov 01: Salman Butt and Asif are found guilty at London's Southwark Crown Court of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
Nov 03: Salman Butt is sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, Asif to 12 months and Amir six months. Meanwhile their agent, Mazhar Majeed, is sentenced to two years and eight months.
Amir only has himself to blame, says Pakistan batting coach
2015
September 13: Amir, Asif and Butt's bans all officially end, although Amir's suspension was relaxed in April.
2016
Jan 15: Amir returns to international cricket, in a T20I against New Zealand in Auckland. He takes one for 31 in his four overs and does not bat in a 16-run defeat before representing Pakistan at the World T20 in India in March.
May 02: Amir is selected selection for the England tour, leaving him on course to make a Test return on July 14 at Lord's -- the scene of his crime nearly six years earlier.
Jul 03-05: Amir plays his first first-class match back in England when he appears in Pakistan's tour opener against Somerset at Taunton. The left-arm quick bowls impressively in a first-innings return of three for 36. Earlier in the match, he is out for a second-ball duck -- the first delivery he faces is, of all things, a no-ball from Josh Davey. The match ends in a draw.
England and Pakistan are set to play their first Test on English soil since the 2010 spot-fixing scandal when they meet at Lord's on Thursday.
Below AFP Sport looks back at the scandal that shook cricket and the subsequent fall-out:
2010
Aug 28: Britain's now defunct News of the World tabloid alleges that teenage sensation Mohammad Amir, Pakistan new-ball partner Mohammad Asif and captain Salman Butt agreed to bowl no-balls in return for payment as part of a betting scam in the Lord's Test against England.
Sep 02: The three Pakistan players are provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council.
Sep 19: A bitter one-day international series becomes even more acrimonious when Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt accuses England of deliberately losing the third match at The Oval.
Sep 20: England batsman Jonathan Trott and Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz have any angry exchange in the Lord's nets before the start of the fourth ODI. Trott later apologised to the Pakistanis. England go on to win the series 3-2.
Warning for English press: Play mind games but at your own risk: Aaqib
2011
Feb 02: Ijaz Butt retracts his remarks about England's defeat at The Oval
Feb 05 The ICC ban Salman Butt for 10 years (five suspended), Asif for seven years (two suspended) and Amir for five years.
Sep 16: Amir pleads guilty to accepting corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat.
Nov 01: Salman Butt and Asif are found guilty at London's Southwark Crown Court of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
Nov 03: Salman Butt is sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, Asif to 12 months and Amir six months. Meanwhile their agent, Mazhar Majeed, is sentenced to two years and eight months.
Amir only has himself to blame, says Pakistan batting coach
2015
September 13: Amir, Asif and Butt's bans all officially end, although Amir's suspension was relaxed in April.
2016
Jan 15: Amir returns to international cricket, in a T20I against New Zealand in Auckland. He takes one for 31 in his four overs and does not bat in a 16-run defeat before representing Pakistan at the World T20 in India in March.
May 02: Amir is selected selection for the England tour, leaving him on course to make a Test return on July 14 at Lord's -- the scene of his crime nearly six years earlier.
Jul 03-05: Amir plays his first first-class match back in England when he appears in Pakistan's tour opener against Somerset at Taunton. The left-arm quick bowls impressively in a first-innings return of three for 36. Earlier in the match, he is out for a second-ball duck -- the first delivery he faces is, of all things, a no-ball from Josh Davey. The match ends in a draw.