Arjuna Ranatunga – The No Handshake Incident
Lord's, known as the "Home of Cricket", has hosted some of the game's proudest moments. But in August 2010, it became the stage for one of its darkest days. A News of the World sting operation revealed that three Pakistan players — captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, had deliberately bowled no-balls as part of a betting scam.
What followed was a scandal that shocked fans everywhere, as three players at the heart of Pakistan's future were suddenly disgraced.
The Incident
- During the Lord's Test against England, undercover reporters from the News of the World caught bookmaker Mazhar Majeed boasting about how he could arrange no-balls on demand.
- As part of the sting, Majeed accepted marked bills totalling £150,000 and predicted the exact deliveries on which Amir and Asif would bowl no-balls.
- The predictions came true exactly as promised.
- Amir bowled a highly visible no-ball, overstepping the line by a large margin, on the first delivery of the third over.
- Asif bowled a no-ball on the final delivery of the 10th over.
- The evidence was undeniable: footage, money, and spot-on predictions. The International Cricket Council (ICC) immediately suspended the players pending investigation.
The Aftermath
- The scandal exploded worldwide. Pakistan cricket, already battling internal issues, was thrown into chaos.
- Salman Butt: Banned for 10 years (5 suspended), effectively ending his international career.
- Mohammad Asif: Banned for 7 years (2 suspended).
- Mohammad Amir: Banned for 5 years. As a teenager, his punishment was lighter than the others.
- In 2011, a London court handed down jail sentences:
- Butt: 30 months in prison.
- Asif: 12 months.
- Amir: 6 months (served half).
- Majeed: 32 months.
- For Pakistan, it was devastating. Amir, just 18, was hailed as one of the most gifted fast bowlers since Wasim Akram. Instead, his career stalled before it truly began.
Legacy and Impact
- The Lord's spot-fixing scandal showed how vulnerable cricket was to corruption. It pushed the ICC to strengthen its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) and increase education programs for young players.
- Amir made a controversial return in 2015 and played in Pakistan's 2017 Champions Trophy victory, but the stain of 2010 never left him. Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, however, never regained international careers.
- Lord's, usually a place of pride, became linked with betrayal. For many fans, the images of Amir's deliberate no-ball symbolized how greed could destroy talent and trust in the game.
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Final Note
The 2010 Lord's scandal remains one of cricket's most painful chapters. It was not just about no-balls, but about broken faith — fans watching in good faith, betrayed by players who were supposed to inspire them. Even today, it serves as a reminder that no matter how talented or young a player may be, integrity is the true foundation of cricket.
