The tough sport of Cricket has a rich and glorious history, and its legacy has become eternal ever since it was first played scores of years ago. The game and its stakeholders have witnessed several memorable moments over time. This tryst with destiny has aided the British game to come of age and solidify its heritage towards greatness. Fans have grown and stayed loyal courtesy of the positive incidents and the love for their idols, whom they look up to. The players have signified more than just a living being playing the game. They have been ambassadors for the sport and are responsible for its goodwill, brand identity, and authentic image. 

However, richness comes with a price, and just like a coin has two sides, Cricket has dealt with severe moments as well. The second most loved sport in the world has had its share of black days, too. Those distasteful and shocking episodes have hampered and created a massive hole in the glittering history of the game. They are oppositely but equally remembered as the finest moments, and instead threaten the ethics to a great extent. These ignominiously dark sides are a disgrace, and their anchors deserve justice to save the health of the game. 

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Here is a look at some of the biggest and most significant match-fixing incidents that shook the cricketing world, their history, protagonists, and deep-scale consequences. 

Cronje and Azharuddin: The Match-Fixing Scandal of 2000

The most infamous of all cricket match-fixing scandals dates back to 2000. The Delhi Police charged Hansie Cronje, the then South African skipper, with fixing his side's One Day International (ODI) matches against India in March of that year. Cronje initially denied his wrongdoing, but as evidence accumulated, all the allegations proved true, and he eventually confessed to his part. The other Proteas teammates testified that they had received lucrative offers from their captain to throw the match, bow down to the bookies, and get involved in fixing the game.

Hansie, later, accused Mohammad Azharuddin of introducing the former to the associated bookmaker, and further investigations found the former Indian cricketer guilty as well. Both were banned for life by the ICC and their respective national boards. This uncovered a chain of players involved. Herschelle Gibbs, a prominent former South African player, received a six-month ban for his part in this scandal. Ajay Sharma, a former Indian domestic cricketer and Delhi player, was also banned for life as he was named in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report alongside Azharuddin for having links with bookies and manipulating matches. In September 2014, his ban was lifted by the Delhi district court. Cronje died in a plane crash in 2002, and ever since his death, suspicions of malicious acts and links with the fixing saga loom large over his demise to date.

Pakistan's Spot-Fixing in the UK, 2010

In 2010, Pakistan's cricket team toured England for a test series. During the Lord's match, three players from the touring side, namely Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, were accused of receiving bribes from a bookmaker, and then organising and deliberately performing feats to affect the moments in the match. This included intentional no-balls to hamper the outcome of the game, and the act was categorised as 'spot-fixing'. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the British Crown Court found them guilty and, as punishment, sentenced the trio to jail terms of variable lengths in the UK. The Pakistani players' on-field actions were condemned by everyone from all quarters, and this entire saga took the sporting world by storm. It called for immediate measures to uphold the integrity of the sport.

IPL 2013 Spot-Fixing

During the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013, a major scandal erupted when the Delhi Police arrested Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on charges of spot-fixing. They were believed to be involved in a syndicate having a history of organising such criminal acts in sports and consequently altering several matches in the IPL. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on its part, handed the trio life bans and ensured free and fair trials to confirm justice for everyone involved.

This incident sent ripple waves across the Indian Cricketing circuit and raised serious questions. Fans subsequently lost faith in the tournament, and the game was frowned upon by many. The Rajasthan franchise was banned for a couple of seasons in 2016 and 2017, following this ominous run of events. IPL cricket regained its credibility gradually over time. A few years back, the Court gave the culprits a clean chit, and that helped them to resume professional cricket.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Fixing Scandal 2013

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were banned from competing in the IPL for two seasons - 2016 and 2017. Gurunath Meiyappan, one of their high-profile team officials, was involved in betting and leaking team information during IPL 2013. He was also the son-in-law of the then BCCI president N. Srinivasan. This scandal was the major stepping stone towards institutional reforms in cricket. Various committees were set up and designated to safeguard the integrity of the sport. The Lodha Committee was the primary one among all. An Anti-Corruption Security Unit (ACSU) in cricket was also set up by the BCCI to remove any cases of graft from the game. 

Marlon Samuels' Match-Fixing Case 2007

Ahead of an ODI series involving the teams of India and the West Indies in 2007, the Caribbean batter was accused of several dealings with the bookmakers. Recordings of his telephonic conversations with the bookie before the Nagpur ODI were found, and he was charged with sharing the details of the match. This was confirmed after an investigation initiated by the West Indies Cricket Board. Allegations of bribery and match-fixing were levelled against him, and Marlon was handed a two-year ban by the ICC.

John - 'The Bookmaker' 

In 1998, Australian cricketers Steve Waugh and Shane Warne went through a turbulent phase when their names got embroiled in match-fixing. It was discovered that the duo had accepted money from an Indian bookmaker named John to share the pitch and weather information during the 1994-95 season. The news was initially kept reserved within the Australian Cricket fraternity, and when it eventually broke out during the 1998 Ashes series, the players and the Board were reprimanded for their heinous actions. However, the controversy didn't escalate much. The ICC took no further action, and the players were let go after just being fined by Cricket Australia (CA). 

Manoj Prabhakar, 1999, and Ajay Jadeja, 2000

Manoj Prabhakar, a former all-rounder, was banned in 1999 after he showed up at an event organised by the Tehelka News Group. It was on exposing match-fixing events in Cricket. He, however, ended up getting accused himself and banned from playing for the national side by the BCCI. A decade later, in 2011, he was also dismissed from his role as the coach of the Delhi domestic cricket team after he publicly criticised and pulled up the players and selectors.

Also, in the year 2000, Ajay Jadeja, a former stylish Indian all-rounder, was banned by the BCCI for five years for his involvement in match-fixing. The Delhi High Court, though, lifted his ban in 2003, but his cricketing career could never revive. He instead took up commentary and is currently a one.

The history of cricket between India and Pakistan is one of intense emotions and competition, a level of drama that often transcends sport. The match-ups between the two teams are not only highly technical events of expertise that have happened on the pitch, but they create multiple moments, in the case of cricket, that will be revered for generations. Below are the top five moments from these competitions.

1. Virat Kohli's Melbourne Miracle, T20 World Cup 2022

The T20 World Cup (group stage) match between India and Pakistan at Melbourne in 2022 was riveting, though surely not the best for the Indian fans up to the final ball of the match. After Pakistan put up a score of 159/8, India found themselves at 31/4. However, Virat Kohli stepped onto the field, and on the back of his 82 off 53 deliveries, India came through with a victory. The moment that sealed the estranged victory was when Kohli hit two sixes off Haris Rauf, whose second six was what some are calling a "genius" lofted cover drive. After hitting six runs to win the match off the last ball, Kohli's dramatic finishing and the battle that preceded it became one of the best-remembered moments of his illustrious career.

2. Misbah's Scoop, Sreesanth's Catch, T20 World Cup Final 2007

The T20 World Cup Final in Johannesburg against Pakistan for India was tense for all cricket fans, with the climax being off the last ball of the match. After taking itself to 157, Pakistan was required to chase down 13 runs off the final over, with MS Dhoni making a gamble to give the over to Joginder Sharma. Amidst the drama of Misbah-ul-Haq pulling off a scoop shot of a full toss to lone fielder Sreesanth, India, by five runs, defended their score to claim the finals victory and the title of T20 ICC World Champions in history's first T20 World Championship.

See Also: 5 Times MS Dhoni Lost His Cool on the Cricket Field

3. Miandad's Last-Ball Six, Austral-Asia Cup 1986

During the 1986 Sharjah final, Pakistan had to withstand an unlikely chase of India's 245. With four required off the final ball, Javed Miandad hammered a full toss by Chetan Sharma over the field for a six, giving his team a remarkable win. Miandad's smile and Pakistan's celebration shattered Indian hearts, making this one of the all-time greatest moments of clutch heroism.

4. Prasad's Retort to Sohail, World Cup 1996

In the 1996 World Cup quarterfinal match in Bengaluru, Aamer Sohail's passionate boundary and insult to Venkatesh Prasad ignited drama. Prasad's subsequent ball knocked out Sohail's off-stump, and celebrations erupted. The victory of India by 39 runs was driven by this passionate exchange, an indicator of the rivalry's raw passion.

5. Tendulkar's Uppercut, World Cup 2003

Pursuing 273 in Centurion, Sachin Tendulkar's 98 off 75 deliveries and a stunning uppercut six off Shoaib Akhtar tore apart Pakistan's pace attack. India's six-wicket victory revealed Tendulkar's brilliance, inspiring a generation.

These moments define the India-Pakistan rivalry—where talent, guts, and drama meet, creating an eternal legacy.

Former Indian cricketer S. Sreesanth has been suspended for three years by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA). The move was made after he publicly attacked the association regarding matters concerning Sanju Samson, another Kerala cricketer. Sreesanth's remarks were deemed to be disrespectful and detrimental to KCA's reputation, particularly since he was also a co-owner of a local team in the Kerala Cricket League.

The issue started when Sanju Samson was not included in Kerala's team for a national tournament known as the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The KCA said that Samson had informed them that he would not attend the training camp. Due to this, he was not allowed to play. This later contributed to him missing out on a spot in India's 2025 Champions Trophy squad, causing a lot of disappointment to his fans and supporters.

Sreesanth later made the allegations public that the KCA was not serving talented players effectively. The veteran India pacer went to the extent of saying the association was falling short in working towards the popularization of cricket in the state. The KCA refuted these claims severely and reminded the world that it had stood behind Sreesanth even during the ban following the 2013 spot-fixing scandal.

🚨 Kerala Cricket Association suspends Sreesanth for 3 years over Sanju samson Controversy 🚨

The KCA also said that it will seek legal action for compensation from Sanju's father, Samson Viswanath, Reji Lukose and 24 news channel anchor for making "baseless allegations against… pic.twitter.com/S1ytkB8kBq

— Mohit Kamal Rath (@mkr4411) May 2, 2025

Read More: 5 players who can replace Injured Glenn Maxwell in PBKS squad for IPL 2025

KCA Responds with Legal Action and Warnings
The KCA also said that they will take legal action against Sanju Samson's father, Samson Viswanath, as he too made serious public statements against the cricket board. The association declared the comments false and harmful. They do not want to ruin their reputation and see that no one circulates unsubstantiated claims.

Even though Sreesanth is suspended, the franchise owned by him hasn't been disciplined. All teams were issued warning letters by the KCA to be more cautious in the future while selecting their management team. This entire episode has put pressure on the Kerala cricket association and made everyone wonder how players are handled and picked up in state cricket.

IPL has seen a number of high-profile, controversial send-offs of its well-known players, ones that led to major debates. Memorable moments consist of Harbhajan Singh slapping down Sreesanth, MS Dhoni getting into a shouting match, and Virat Kohli yelling at the crowd....

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5 of the most controversial send-offs in IPL history

Virat Kohli vs. Gautam Gambhir (2013 & 2023)

• Incident: Kohli and Gambhir had heated exchanges on the field, showcasing the competitive spirit and tensions between players.
• Impact: These confrontations emphasized the fierce rivalries in the league.

MS Dhoni's Pitch Invasion (2019)

• Incident: Dhoni’s on-field tantrum punctuated the unwelcoming atmosphere, where managers and owners were expecting a star player to storm onto the pitch to accost the referees over a bad call in a match.
• Impact: His actions ignited national conversations about player empowerment and respect for officials.

Also read:KKR vs SRH: Match 15 Weather and Pitch Report – IPL 2025

 Harbhajan Singh vs. Sreesanth (2008)

• Incident: After a match, Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth, leading to a significant suspension for Harbhajan.
• Impact: This incident highlighted the intense emotions in the IPL and raised questions about player conduct.

Kieron Pollard vs. Mitchell Starc (2014)

• Incident: During an IPL 2014 clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, tensions escalated when Pollard backed away mid-delivery, but Starc still bowled the ball aggressively toward him, prompting Pollard to almost throw his bat in retaliation.
• Impact: This altercation, one of the most heated in IPL history, sparked major debates on sportsmanship and the limits of aggression in the game.

Also read: IPL 2025: Updated points table after LSG vs PBKS clash

Sourav Ganguly vs. Shane Warne (2008)

• Incident: During an IPL 2008 match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, Ganguly questioned a catch taken by Graeme Smith, prompting the umpire to refer it. With inconclusive replays, Ganguly was given the benefit of the doubt, leading to Warne openly criticizing him in the post-match press conference.

• Impact: This controversy ignited debates on the spirit of the game, with Ganguly and Warne exchanging heated words, showcasing their long-standing rivalry even in the IPL.

The IPL comes with glamour, edge-of-the-seat cricket, and multi-crore rupee deals. But amidst all the glamour, there have been dark incidents also that shook the cricketing community. Here are some of the most noted IPL scandals:

1. 2013 Spot-Fixing Scandal

This was among the darkest times of IPL history. Three Rajasthan Royals players, Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan, were arrested for spot-fixing. The image of the league left everyone shocked.

2. CSK and RR Banned (2015)

Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for two years when their promoters got involved in illegal gambling. It was a devastating blow, as CSK was one of the most successful teams in the IPL's history.

ALSO SEE: Highest-Paid IPL Players Who Never Played a Single Match!

3. Lalit Modi Controversy

Lalit Modi, the creator of IPL, was charged with irregularities and suspended by the BCCI in 2010. His abrupt departure from the league raised a number of questions regarding cricket administration corruption.

4. Suspension of Ravindra Jadeja (2010)

Jadeja, the superstar of today, was suspended for the 2010 season when he attempted to negotiate with another team while he was already contracted to Rajasthan Royals. It was an unusual instance of a player being punished for breach of contract.

5. Harbhajan Singh Slaps Sreesanth (2008)

In a shock during the inaugural season of IPL, Indian player Sreesanth was slapped by Harbhajan Singh following a match between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians. It resulted in Harbhajan's suspension for the remainder of the season.

But despite all the scandals, the IPL is one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world. Even though scandals rocked the tournament, popularity of the tournament is growing year by year.

Which of the IPL controversy do you remember most?

Sreesanth got a notice from the KCA asking for an explanation for his statement. They want to know why he said that statement for the sanju samson exclusion. This happened after the former Indian fast bowler Sreesanth spoke against the KCA for how they treated Sanju Samson. KCA didn't allow Samson a proper opportunity to give his best and show his experience how important for the India's ODI team.

Sreesanth told Onmanorama we should all cheer for Sanju because he is the only one player who plays International for our State, Kerala. The KCA gets players from other States for Kerala team and that's not fair to our own players from here. Why do they act that way? It makes it hard for players who play cricket in Kerala to get a chance.

The BCCI started looking into why Samson wasn't playing in Domestic Cricket. Before this happened, there was a small disagreement between the KCA and Samson primarily concentrated about him not getting to play for the Kerala team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Samson had to play in these home games to show he's good at Cricket because he wasn't on India's team in the ICC Champions Trophy. 

THOUGHTS on the controversy that has erupted between KCA & Sreesanth over the treatment meted out to Sanju Samson? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/aGvf0umwtZ

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) February 8, 2025

KCA Fires Back at Sreesanth

Sreesanth’s comment hinted that KCA had acted unfairly. Sreesanth is the co-owner of the Kollam Sailors franchise in the Kcl, he isn't allowed to make such bold statements about the KCA as per his contract. KCA said that why they supported him when no one else did because of his match-fixing past, yet he still made negative remarks against them.

ALSO READ: Pak vs Nz 1st ODI Live streaming: Where & How to Watch the match online and tv.

"When Sreesanth was in jail facing match-fixing allegations, KCA officials Backed him. While the court Dismissed the criminal charges, he has not been officially cleared in the match-fixing case. There’s no reason for him to show as a protector of other players," KCA stated this statement. The KCA board helped Sreesanth make a comeback when others didn’t.  "KCA’s supported Sreesanth got a chance to return to cricket, including playing in the Ranji Trophy. Other teams haven’t extended the same level of support to players with similar pasts, and that’s something to think about," the statement added by Kerala Cricket Association (KCA).