Prominent cricketers who went to jail for various reasons

Here we take a look at prominent cricketers who faced imprisonment for various reasons.

In “Gentleman’s Game,” Jail should be the least used word, but there are have been a few instances where cricketers have found themselves behind the bars due to illegal activities. There are a few big names in the game of cricket who are currently serving the jail or have been sentenced to imprisonment due to their bad deeds. Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan is one of the prominent faces who is currently in jail.

Spot-fixing, corruption, sexual assault and rape are the most common reasons among the cricketers who have visited the prison once in their life. Let’s have a look at the top cricketers who have found themselves in trouble and landed in jail.

1. Navjot Singh Sidhu (India) :

Former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu recently served one year of rigorous imprisonment in a road rage case. Sidhu was imprisoned for 10 months and walked out of Patiala Jail on 1st April 2023. Navjot Sindhu Sidhu was charged of voluntarily causing hurt. In 1988, Navjot Singh Sidhu met with a small accident in Patiala, where he had an altercation with a man. Navjot Singh Sidhu was accused of beating the man to death.

2. Sandeep Lamichchane (Nepal) :

The 23-year-old leg-spinner from Nepal Sandeep Lamichchane recently got sentenced to eight years of imprisonment by the Kathmandu District Court. Lamichchane was found guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman. Sandeep Lamichchane was one the biggest names in Nepal cricket. In 2022, a young woman in Kathmandu accused Sandeep Lamichchane of rape and later the cricketer sent to prison for a few days. Lamichhane represented Nepal in 51 ODIs and 52 T20Is.

3. Danushka Gunathilaka (Sri Lanka) :

Sri Lankan middle-order batter Danushka Gunathilaka spent 11 days in prison in Australia when he was arrested for sexual assault in Sydney during the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Gunathilaka was charged with four counts of sexual assault but later in September 2023, all the charges were dropped as he was not found guilty. He got released of jail later.

4. Suresh Raina (India) :

Former Indian middle-order batter Suresh Raina had also spent a few hours in prison when he was arrested by Mumbai Police in December 2020. Raina was accused of breaking the Covid-19 protocols and was found partying along with a few celebrities. A total of 34 people were arrested by Mumbai Police.

5. Imran Khan (Pakistan) :

Former Pakistan World Cup-winning captain turned politician Imran Khan is currently in jail. Soon after his government fell in Pakistan, Imran Khan was arrested in a case involving corruption. Imran Khan was sentenced to three years of imprisonment along with a ban from contesting elections. Imran’s sentences were relaxed after a review.

6. Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) :

Former South African pace bowler Makhaya Ntini also spent a few days in jail when he was accused of sexual assault and rape in 1999. Nitni made his debut in 1998 and it looked like his career would witness an early end. Ntini was later released and acquitted of the charges. He went on to play 101 test matches for South Africa and retired just before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

7. Mohammad Asif (Pakistan) :

Former Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif was arrested in Dubai and England for two different cases. Asif was arrested while he was accused of carrying illegal drugs in 2008 when he was flying back to Pakistan from Dubai. Later in 2010, Asif was imprisoned when he was charged with spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010. Asif remains the most controversial figure to play International cricket.

8. S. Sreesanth (India) :

On 16 May 2013, Delhi Police arrested former Indian pace bowler S. Sreesanth along with a few other cricketers. This was the biggest scandal that shook Indian cricket and fans to core. Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates were accused of spot-fixing in sixth edition of IPL. According to Delhi Police’s statement, Sreesanth accepted the charges of spot-fixing back then.

9. Mohammed Amir (Pakistan) :

Former Pakistan bowler Mohammed Amir was also part of the spot-fixing scandal that took place during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010. After the trial, he was sentenced to six months of jail and spent his time at Feltham Young Offenders Institution in England. Later on he made a roaring comeback in international cricket and went on to represent Pakistan in three ICC events from T20 World Cup 2016 to ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

10. Salman Butt (Pakistan):

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt was sentenced to jail for 30 months when a verdict was pronounced by a London court. Salman Butt was also part of the spot-fixing scandal along with Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir in Lord’s test in 2010. Salman Butt was released after spending 8 months in jail. Recently, he was included in PCB’s National Selection Panel as a consultant, but later he was removed due to uproar.

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