5 Talented Pakistani Bowlers Whose Careers Were Cut Short by Bans

Pakistan cricket’s strong point has always been its bowling, and the country has given the cricketing world some wonderful bowlers. While some of these bowlers went on to become legends, a few had their careers prematurely cut short due to match fixing scandals, wrong bowling actions and the use of banned substances.This issue was again brought into light recently when Mohammad Amir, who made a comeback after completing a 5-year ban for match-fixing, was called a “thief” in a domestic match by a player from the opposition, leading to an on-field spat between the two.Amir, who got banned at a young age of 19, was fortunate enough to get a second chance, but not all are lucky. The imposition of a ban usually results in the tragic end of their careers.Here are 5 bowlers from Pakistan whose careers were tragically cut short due to bans.

#5 Mohammad Amir

Mohammad Aamer runs up to bowl during Pakistan's Grade-II tournament in Karach

Widely considered as the future of Pakistan cricket, Amir made his debut at the age of 17 in 2009. He was instrumental in Pakistan winning the T20 cup that year, taking a wicket in his opening spell in 6 out of 7 games. He continued his exceptional form in 2010, becoming the first 18 year old to take 50 wickets on Pakistan’s tour of England.

His career took a tragic turn when he was caught and convicted in the spot fixing scandal, bowling deliberate no-balls in a test.

He was handed a 5-year ban in February 2011 and was sentenced to 6 months of jail in England.

The 24 year old is now looking to revive his career, with his ban ending this year.

#4 Mohammad Asif

Mohammad Asif was one of the world’s best bowlers in the period immediately before his ban

Pakistan’s talented medium pacer hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. In 2006, he was suspended for a year after testing positive for performance-enhancing steroids along with teammate Shoaib Akhtar, though the ban was soon overturned on appeal. In June 2008, he was again embroiled in a controversy when he was detained in Dubai for having drugs. The following month, the IPL revealed that Asif had failed a dope test during IPL season 1, leading to a one-year suspension and removal from Delhi Daredevils.

In 2010, he had reached a career best test ranking of number 2, behind Dale Steyn. The same year, the bowler hit headlines when his partner and Pakistani actress Veena Malik accused him of domestic violence. But the biggest controversy came in September 2010 when he was caught for spot-fixing in a list A match between Pakistan and Somerset. He was banned for 7 years, and convicted alongside Amir and Butt.

Recently he tried his hand at acting.

#3 Raza Hasan

Raza Hasan in action for Pakistan

Chosen as Danish Kaneria’s replacement for the 2010 tour of England, Raza Hasan seemed like a promising spin bowler. His career was slowly going on the right path, but it took a similar turn as tragic as the bowler he replaced in the team.

In May 2015, he tested positive for a banned substance. He was subsequently given a 2-year ban. Even though his young age is on his side, his chances for a comeback look extremely bleak.

#2 Danish Kaneria

Danish Kaneria bowling in England in 2000

Danish Kaneria was Pakistan’s most successful spin bowler for a few years, and holds the record for highest number of international wickets by a Pakistani spinner.

He played international cricket from 2000 to 2010, before getting a lifetime ban by ECB, after being allegedly involved in spot-fixing while representing Essex County Cricket Club. He pleaded innocence and appealed against the ban, but it was rejected.

He has made several appeals to PCB to help him pay the heavy fines imposed on him by the ECB. So far his appeals haven’t been met with a favourable response.

#1 Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar made the world sit up and take notice

He made the world sit up and take notice, when he first emerged on the scene in the 1990s. Seen as the perfect successor to Wasim and Waqar, this Rawalpindi Express soon became the fastest bowler in the world, with his fastest ball reaching speeds up to 163.7 kph.

At his prime, he troubled the best batsmen in the world, but his attitude problems became a blockade.

In 2008, Shoaib Akhtar was slapped with a 5-year ban by the PCB after finding him guilty of repeated disciplinary violations, shortly after he publicly criticised the PCB’s system of allocating central contracts. He was already on a 2-year probation after he hit his teammate Mohammmad Asif with a bat before the start of innaugral T20 World Cup in September 2007.

The ban prohibited him from playing any international cricket, and also domestic cricket in Pakistan. He made a comeback in the 2011 World Cup beofre retiring from the sport, and is now a common face in pre and post match analysis panels.

He ended with 178 wickets in 46 tests and 247 in 163 ODIs.