"he took a short cut and lost everything"
Former Pakistani batsman Nasir Jamshed, aged 30, has been jailed for 17 months for his role in the spot-fixing scandal in which he conspired to bribe other players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
He and his co-conspirators Mohammed Ijaz, aged 33, and Yousaf Anwar, aged 35, initially denied being involved in a plan to convince players to underperform deliberately in the PSL 2018 game between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai.
However, in December 2019, Jamshed admitted to his role.
Following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), Anwar and Ijaz also pleaded guilty.
An undercover police officer had uncovered the operation by posing as a member of a corrupt betting syndicate.
This led to the discovery of an attempted fix in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in late 2016 and an actual fix in the PSL in February 2017.
In relation to both incidents, the opening batsman in the tournaments had agreed not to score runs from the first two balls of an over in return for payment.
Jamshed was a target of spot-fixing in Bangladesh before later encouraging others on February 9, 2017.
He convinced Sharjeel Khan not to score runs off the first two balls of Islamabad’s second over. Jamshed also recruited Khalid Latif in return for payment.
Both cricketers were subsequently banned for five years by the PCB.
Anwar and Ijaz had a system where they would charge around £30,000 per fix with half of that going to the player.
On February 13, 2017, Jamshed was arrested at his home while Anwar was arrested at Heathrow Airport. Ijaz was arrested at his home 10 days later.
Jamshed had represented Pakistan’s national team, playing two Tests, 46 ODIs and 18 T20s. In August 2018, he was handed a 10-year ban by the PCB.
On February 7, 2020, at Manchester Crown Court, Nasir Jamshed was jailed for 17 months.
Ijaz was jailed for 30 months while Anwar received three years and four months in prison.
After Jamshed’s sentencing, his wife Samara Afzal issued a statement:
“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 short cut 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, especially his daughter who he is very close to, but it’s too late for him.
“I hope all cricketers look at his example as a deterrent against corruption.”
Samara also tweeted that she does not know how to tell her daughter that her father has been jailed. She also hoped that others would learn from Jamshed’s mistakes.
Today is the most difficult day of my life as Nasir starts his custodial sentence & I figure out what to tell my 4 year old.. I’ve felt the need to write this in the hope that others learn from Nasirs mistakes & no one goes through the pain we have suffered in the last 3 years. pic.twitter.com/fgkkMiglgz
— Dr Samara Afzal (@SamaraAfzal) February 7, 2020
Ian McConnell, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said:
“These men abused their privileged access to professional, international cricket to corrupt games, eroding public confidence for their own financial gain.
“I would like the thank the England and Wales Cricket Board, International Cricket Council, Gambling Commission and Pakistan Cricket Board for their ongoing support throughout this investigation.
“Tackling corruption and bribery in its various forms is a priority for the National Crime Agency.
“We will vigorously pursue those involved, and target their illicit profits which are so often used to fund further criminality.”
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