Introduction

Cricket fans have seen controversies, fights, sledging, and political drama —
but nothing shook cricket like the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.
It remains the darkest incident in cricket’s modern history.

This scandal didn’t involve random domestic players.
It involved:

• Pakistan’s captain Salman Butt

• Fast bowling magician Mohammad Asif

• Teenage superstar Mohammad Amir

Three players who carried enormous talent — and enormous expectations.

The world couldn’t believe it when these names came out.
It wasn’t just a small wrongdoing.
It was a scandal that ripped apart Pakistan cricket, embarrassed world cricket, and forced ICC to overhaul its anti-corruption system.

This GamblingHood Exclusive uncovers every detail — the names, the events, the proof, the aftermath, and the consequences.

The Background: Why the 2010 England Tour Became a Turning Point

Pakistan was touring England in 2010.
The team was struggling:

• Political pressure back home

• PCB issues

• Internal fights

• Captaincy drama

• Media criticism

• Young players under stress

Salman Butt was the new captain.
Mohammad Asif was one of the best swing bowlers in the world.
Mohammad Amir — just 18 — was already hailed as the next Wasim Akram.

But behind the scenes, something dangerous was happening —
fixers were getting close.

The Fixer: Mazhar Majeed

Mazhar Majeed, a Pakistan-origin UK-based “sports agent,” was actually tied to heavy betting circles.

He targeted:

• Salman Butt (captain)

• Mohammad Asif (senior pacer)

• Mohammad Amir (teen sensation)

According to investigations:

• Butt was the “entry point”

• Asif was influenced later

• Amir was manipulated because he was young, talented, and pressured

Fixing started small…
but then Majeed made the biggest mistake of his life —
he bragged to an undercover reporter.

How the Scandal Was Exposed (The Undercover Trap)

A journalist from News of the World posed as a rich bettor and contacted Mazhar Majeed.

During a secret meeting:

• Majeed asked for money

• He detailed how players would bowl deliberate no-balls

• He described signals

• He guaranteed accuracy

The journalist recorded everything.

Majeed confidently said:

• Amir will bowl a huge no-ball on a specific ball

• Asif will overstep on another pre-decided delivery

• Salman Butt will coordinate the plan

A bag with £150,000 cash was handed to Majeed — on camera.

This was the evidence that blew the entire cricket world up.

The Exact Over That Changed Cricket Forever

During the Test match at Lord’s:

1. Mohammad Amir’s Deliberate No-Ball

On the exact ball the fixer predicted,
Amir overstepped by such a massive margin that even the commentators gasped.

It wasn’t “careless.”
It wasn’t “accidental.”
It was planned.

2. Mohammad Asif’s Deliberate No-Ball

Asif followed the script exactly —
another huge no-ball
on the exact delivery number mentioned by Majeed.

3. Salman Butt’s Captaincy Role

Butt placed the bowlers in the exact bowling changes
that matched the fixer’s prediction.

The dots connected too perfectly.

The Footage, The Cash, The Proof

The undercover report contained:

• Videos of Mazhar Majeed accepting money

• Recordings of him explaining the no-ball timings

• Text messages

• Phone calls

• Meeting logs

When the no-balls happened exactly as predicted,
the proof became irrefutable.

International cricket had never faced such a direct, recorded, undeniable scandal.

The Immediate Aftermath

As soon as the evidence broke:

• Scotland Yard police stormed the team hotel

• Amir, Asif, and Salman Butt’s rooms were searched

• Phones were seized

• Cash was confiscated

• Mazhar Majeed was arrested instantly

Pakistan’s cricket community was shattered.

Players cried on camera.
Some denied.
Some remained silent.
But the world knew —
this was the biggest spot-fixing scandal ever.

ICC’s Punishments

After investigation, ICC delivered harsh sentences:

Salman Butt

• Banned for 10 years (5 active + 5 suspended)

• Jailed in the UK

• Lost captaincy forever

• Career destroyed completely

Mohammad Asif

• Banned for 7 years

• Jailed in the UK

• Known as a genius bowler — career gone instantly

Mohammad Amir

• Banned for 5 years

• Jailed — though released early due to age

• ICC considered him “young and influenced”

Amir made a comeback later,
but the stain never left his legacy.

The Human Side — Emotional Breakdown & Regret

Mohammad Amir later confessed that:

• He was pressured

• He was threatened

• He feared losing his place

• He was manipulated by seniors

He cried in multiple interviews.

Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt maintained innocence initially,
but eventually reality caught up.

Their families suffered.
Their names were dragged through media for years.
Public anger was insane.

Impact on Pakistan Cricket

Pakistan cricket was humiliated globally.

Effects included:

• Loss of respect

• Team distrust

• Players monitored 24/7

• Huge pressure on PCB

• No matches at home due to security + corruption image

• Fans losing faith

• Sponsors pulling back

The entire generation of players became more cautious and scared.

Impact on World Cricket

The ICC immediately changed everything:

• Anti-corruption officers assigned to teams

• Player phone restrictions

• Hotel access limits

• Agent verification rules

• Monitoring of financial transactions

• Mandatory anti-corruption education

This scandal completely transformed cricket’s anti-corruption system.

Why This Remains the Biggest Spot-Fixing Scandal Ever

This scandal is unmatched because:

1. It involved:

   • a captain

   • a senior bowler

   • a teenage superstar

2. It happened in Test cricket, the purest format.

3. It had full video evidence and controlled timing.

4. It wasn’t suspected — it was proven live.

5. Players went to jail, not just bans.

6. It changed global cricket laws permanently.

No scandal before or after had the same depth, shock value, or consequences.

Could It Happen Again?

Spot-fixing hasn’t disappeared.
Bookies still operate.
Fixers still try to approach young players.

But because of this scandal:

• Systems are stricter

• Players are more aware

• ICC monitoring is tighter

• Leaks are detected faster

This scandal became the “fear example” for future cricketers.

Conclusion

The 2010 Lord’s spot-fixing scandal involving Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir remains the darkest moment in cricket history.

It exposed:

• greed

• manipulation

• pressure

• corruption

But it also forced cricket to evolve,
tighten security,
and take corruption seriously.

This GamblingHood Exclusive detailed every fact, every name, and every impact —
a complete picture of cricket’s most shameful chapter.