Former Pakistan international cricketer, Nasir Jamshed has been sentenced to 17 months in prison after being involved in spot-fixing a variety of T20 tournaments in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The cricketer had already been banned from competitive play for 10 years in 2018 after the well documented Pakistan Super League spot-fixing scandal.
Nevertheless, in a statement issued by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on Friday, it was revealed that Jamshed alongside British nationals Yousef Anwar and Mohammed Ijaz admitted conspiring to spot-fix multiple Bangladesh Premier League games in 2016.
The NCA stated: “Using an undercover officer, NCA investigators identified that the group were plotting to fix elements of the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament which Jamshed was due to play in.”
The test batsmen joins a growing list of cricketers who have been jailed due to spot-fixing. Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were handed prison sentences in Britain in 2011 for plotting to hinder their performances during 2010’a test match against England.
Judge Richard Mansell QC, during the sentencing at the Manchester Crown Court, added: “By far the most insidious consequence of these offences is the undermining of public confidence in the integrity of the sporting contest, not simply in the individual match directly affected but in the game of cricket generally.
“Corruption of this kind has sadly been taking place in the game of cricket for a very long time.”
Following the convictions, Anwar was sentenced to serve 40 months in prison, whilst Ijaz was sanctioned with a 30 month sentence.
Jamshed’s wife Dr Samara Afza, wrote via Twitter: “Today is the most difficult day of my life. I’ve felt the need to write this in the hope that others learn from Nasir’s mistakes.
“Nasir could have had a bright future, had he worked hard and been committed to the sport than gave him so much, but he took a shortcut and lost everything, his career, status, respect and freedom,
“He would have got UK nationality and played county cricket, and he threw his chance away. He would do anything to turn the clock back and not lose everything. I hope all cricketers look at his example as a deterrent against corruption.”
Jamshed had previously played for Pakistan on 68 occasions, his last being a 2015 World Cup match against the UAE in New Zealand.
