Harbhajan Singh was caught on camera slapping Sreesanth after an IPL match, leading to Harbhajan's suspension and a tearful Sreesanth becoming a viral image.
After the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab on 25 April 2008, Harbhajan Singh was caught on camera slapping fellow Indian cricketer S. Sreesanth. The incident occurred on the field after the match, and the footage of a tearful Sreesanth became one of the most shared images of the inaugural IPL season.
The BCCI took swift action, banning Harbhajan for the remainder of the IPL season. Sreesanth's emotional reaction, with visible tears on his face, generated enormous public sympathy and media coverage. The incident highlighted the intensity of IPL competition and how it could escalate tensions between teammates in the Indian national team.
Harbhajan's ban was a significant punishment given that it was the first season of the IPL and the league was trying to establish its credibility. Mumbai Indians' campaign was also affected by the loss of one of their senior players. Harbhajan later apologized for the incident, and the matter was eventually resolved between the two players.
While not a corruption incident per se, the slapping episode was a significant breach of conduct that brought the IPL into disrepute during its debut season. It established early on that disciplinary issues would be a recurring theme in the IPL, and that the league's high-pressure environment could bring out the worst in players.
Harbhajan Singh banned for remainder of IPL 2008 season. Later apologized to Sreesanth.
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.