No sooner the cricketers rise to glory, they are often seen indulging in malpractices. Some players rob their careers owing to their indisciplined habits, while some indulge in false betting practices and ruin their careers. Here are some of the famous cricketers who themselves invited trouble in their careers.
undefined
David WarnerThe prolific left-handed batsman from Australia has been entangled in many controversies in the past. He was involved in the whole 'SandPaper Gate' scandal. He has invited problems for himself for his short-temperedness and aggressive behavior, which nearly overpowers him. Following his unacceptable behavior, Martin Crowe even went as far as asking for a red card and yellow card system for players like him.His intolerant behavior with Joe Root in England during the 2013 Champions robbed him of his place in the Australian Champions Trophy squad. Another boiling incident happened during their away tour to South Africa where he clashed with Quinton De Kock during tea of the first Test and was fined 75% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Not just this, he was a part of the now infamous ball-tampering scandal, along with the skipper Steve Smith, during their tour to South Africa. This led to the duo’s suspension from the team.a
undefined
Herschelle GibbsOne of the best batsmen South African Cricket ever produced, Herschelle Gibbs little used his talent to draw attention and his career as an epitome of malpractices. His controversies began back in 2000 when he was involved in the most infamous match-fixing scandal in the history of cricket. It is believed that he was approached by bookies and then-captain Hansie Cronje to book a match, which he could not deny. He accepted the money to score less than 20 in that match, following which he was suspended for six months and refused to visit India for the next 6 years due to the fear of getting arrested by the police.Just the very next year, he invited trouble again, as he was fined by CSA for smoking marijuana, along with other teammates, during their tour to the West Indies. He was also accused of racial comments directed towards Pakistani playersfans, following which he received a ban of three games - one in each of the three formats.
undefined
Salman ButtOne of the iconic players of Pakistan, his career came to a halt soon no sooner than he was adjudged as the captain. Just when he was the captain for his second series, it was during the fourth test against England at Lords where Butt, along with pacers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, was accused of blurting out information to the bookmakers in exchange for hefty money. A sting operation conducted thereafter, proved the allegations against them true, and all the three players were banned by the ICC. As Salman Butt was the captain, he received the longest ban, for a term of 10 years. He was even involved in criminal matters, proving the veracity of which he was given imprisonment of 30 months in London. His scandals remained the worst for the longest period of time.
undefined
Marlon SamuelsThe West Indian player was quite respected and was perhaps one of the best batsmen after the Lara-Chanderpaul era. Soon, this Caribbean player became a part of serious controversies and scandals, where he was first involved in a controversy when he was accused by the Indian Police of breaching major match and pitch information to the bookies. On getting caught red-handed, when the transcript of his conversation with a bookie was released, Samuels was suspended by the ICC for a period of two years in 2008. He was also involved with controversy with Ben Stokes, where the two were seen giving away remarks against the other.However, it was 2013 BBL where he invited major controversy for himself. On the field, he had a spat with Shane Warne, after which he tried to stop David Hussey from taking another run by pulling his shirt. In the heat of the moment, Samuels and Warne had a scuffle, while he was batting and their anger proved fatal for Samuels. Samuels was suspended for the whole tournament thereafter.
undefined
SreesanthSreesanth's career no sooner started that he was engaged in malpractices that invited him trouble. Back then in 2006, on India’s tour to South Africa, he was fined by ICC for his actions against Andre Nel and Hashim Amla. In the very next year against England, he was again fined half of his match fees for intentionally shoulder barging Michael Vaughan during a Test match.However, the controversy that nearly ended his cricketing career was the infamous IPL betting-scandal, that happened in 2013, where he, along with two other Rajasthan Royals' players, was arrested by Delhi police.
undefined
Jesse RyderJesse Ryder from New Zealand is one of those whose cricketing career culminated, subject to the everlasting controversies. Owing to his prolonged drinking habits and his undisciplined lifestyle, he brought many controversies to his side.He was roped in the first controversy when because of his excessive drinking, he missed the team meeting and failed to make it to the practice session. He took a sabbatical in 2012 and in 2013, he was attacked by four men outside a bar in Christchurch, after he spoke some foul language, which landed him up in a coma for some time. In the series against India, Ryder’s drinking habit came into the limelight again, when his party with other players nearly halted his cricketing career, following which he couldn’t make a comeback.
undefined
Mohammad AsifA rising bowler from Pakistan, he got involved in the drug-scandal of Pakistan Cricket in 2006. He was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs to improve his bowling speed, followed by a year ban. A similar incident happened in IPL, in 2008, and he was subsequently suspended for the next season. In 2010, he got involved in the match-fixing scandal, along with other Pakistani players, and was found guilty of taking money from the bookies and fixing matches by bowling huge no-balls during the course of the match. As a result, he was suspended by ICC for terms of between five and 10 years.
undefined
Shane WarneThe legendary spin bowler, his career revolved more around controversies than playing cricket. Subject to his flamboyant lifestyle and his drinking habits, he invited regular troubles for himself. In 1995, he, along with Mark Waugh, was fined for accepting money from bookies, for blurting out the match and the pitch conditions. In 1999, he faced a two-match ban for his dislike for Arjuna Ranatunga. Just before the 2003 World Cup, he faced a year ban, as he tested positive for a banned drug. In the same year, he was suspended from the entire season of BBL, after he verbally and physically attacked Samuels during a league match.
undefined
Andrew SymondsAn excellent cricketer on-field, he was involved in many controversies off-field. In August 2008 and during the ICC T20 World Cup, Symonds was sent home due to some alcohol-related incident and he partied out. He was dropped from a couple of tours and eventually, was dropped from the Australian side as well. However, it was during his interviews when he was a little high, he called Brendon McCullum a 'lump of sh*t' and expressed his infatuation towards Matthew Hayden's wife, following which he was charged by for breaking the code of conduct.
undefined
Shoaib AkhtarOne of the most aggressive players from Pakistan, he was known for his exceptional bowling. He soon fell prey to many controversies In 2003, following ball-tampering during the Triangular Series in Sri Lanka, Akhtar was accused and later banned. His short temperament and foul words, that he said to Paul Adams in their tour to Australia, led him to get another three-match ban. He was also involved in a drug scandal, along with Mohammad Asif in 2006, for using performance-enhancement drugs, subject to which he faced a two-year suspension, but was later acquitted on appeal. Following a series of violent behavior, he was also accused of hitting teammate Asif with a bat during the 2007 T20 World Cup and was banned for five matches. Also, he breached the Code of Conduct in 2008, as he once again faced a suspension of five years, but was included just a year later.
undefined