Mohammad Amir's return to international cricket after serving a five-year spot-fixing ban divided the cricket world, with some praising rehabilitation and others arguing convicted fixers should never return.
Mohammad Amir's return to international cricket in January 2016, following his five-year ban for spot-fixing at Lord's in 2010, became one of cricket's most debated topics. At the time of his offense, Amir was just 18 and considered one of the most talented fast bowlers in world cricket. His ban and six-month prison sentence ended a career that had produced 51 Test wickets in just 14 matches.
The debate over his return was fierce. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan strongly supported Amir's rehabilitation, arguing that he had served his time and deserved a second chance. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and coach Waqar Younis also backed his return. However, several senior Pakistani players, reportedly including Fawad Alam and Ahmed Shehzad, were uncomfortable playing alongside a convicted fixer.
The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit had reservations about allowing Amir to return, and his reintegration required him to undertake extensive anti-corruption education. International reaction was mixed - while some applauded the principle of rehabilitation, others, particularly in England where the fixing had occurred, questioned whether a criminal conviction for corruption should be treated the same as, say, a doping ban.
Amir went on to play a key role in Pakistan's memorable Champions Trophy victory in 2017, taking three wickets in the final against India. He eventually retired from Test cricket in 2019, citing the physical demands, and later had a brief international career before stepping away from Pakistan cricket amid controversies with the PCB.
Amir returned to international cricket after serving his five-year ban. His rehabilitation remained controversial throughout his career.
Cricket Canada
12 May 2026
ICC suspended six months of funding to Cricket Canada over governance failures and financial misreporting — 63% of their total revenue.
Multiple franchises
8 May 2026
The IPL's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) submitted a formal report to the BCCI in May 2026 flagging "certain anomalies" observed across the league stage: unauthorised persons had been seen in the team dugout, on the team bus, and at team hotels during IPL matches in apparent breach of anti-corruption Standard Operating Procedures. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed the report publicly and warned that "very stringent action" would be taken if violations continued. Separately, the BCCI tightened protocols after reports that certain franchise owners had been seen mingling with players in restricted areas — a specific interaction prohibited under the anti-corruption framework.
Various county sides
1865-08-01
Despite MCC's attempts to reduce gambling on cricket through the 1840s and 1850s, county cricket in the 1860s still operated in a culture where betting was widespread and where allegations of arranged results circulated freely among those closest to the game. Several county fixtures of the decade generated suspicion among contemporaries that the outcome had been agreed in advance, though the absence of formal investigation meant that no players were ever charged.