5 famous cricketers who were arrested for off-field offenses

Cricket is considered to be a gentleman’s game, but some cricketers couldn’t keep up to the mark in their personal lives. A number of cricket players have been arrested in the past because of various on- and off-field controversies.

The on-field reasons could be improper behavior with an umpire or opposition fielder, failure to obey the game rules, usage of inappropriate words, whereas off-field reasons have included petty bar fights, possession of illegal drugs, drunken drive and in serious cases, sexual assault.

On that note, let’s take a look at the list of five famous cricketers who had off-field brushes with the law.

#5 Wasim Akram & Waqar Younis (Pakistan)

The incident happened during the Pakistan tour of West Indies in 1993. The Pakistan team traveled to Grenada to play a three-day match against the West Indies Under-23 XI, a week before the start of the first Test in Port of Spain.

Four prominent Pakistan bowlers: Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed, and Mushtaq Ahmed, were arrested on the beach at the team's hotel in Grenada for possession of an illegal drug, thought to be marijuana.

Akram was the captain of Pakistan and the possibility of the tour going ahead was put in jeopardy.

According to a witness statement, no drugs were found on the players or anyone in their company at the time of arrest, but the substances were found close by. All four were released on bail and the games finally took place. Pakistan lost the series 2-0.

#4 Makhaya Ntini (South Africa)

Makhaya Ntini was lucky to escape a six-year jail sentence

South African pace bowler Makhaya Ntini was arrested for his involvement in the rape of a 21-year old student at the Buffalo Park Cricket Ground in December 1998. Though he maintained his innocence in court, he was found guilty of raping the girl in one of the toilets at the stadium and faced the possibility of a six-year jail sentence.

He was slated to play in the 1999 World Cup, but was replaced by Alan Dawson in the South African World Cup squad. However, Ntini filed a successful appeal against his conviction in November 1999 and escaped the jail term. The court could not prove him guilty, and Ntini walked away.

He went on to play 101 Tests for the Proteas and claimed 390 wickets in the process. He also captured 266 wickets in 173 One Day Internationals.

#3 Navjot Singh Sidhu (India)

One of the most aggressive batsmen of the 80's and 90's

In 2006, the Punjab and Haryana High Court convicted the former Indian opener for causing the death of a Patiala resident during a road incident in 1988.

Sidhu is alleged to have assaulted Gurnam Singh when he asked the Indian cricketer to move hiz vehicle and make way. Gurnam Singh was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead, and Sidhu was booked for murder.

He was convicted by the High Court and was sentenced to three years in jail. Sidhu then approached the Supreme Court in 2007, and it suspended the verdict of the High Court. The Supreme Court stayed his conviction, which allowed him to contest and win the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in February 2007.

#2 Amit Mishra (India)

Amit Mishra at the police station in Bangalore

One of the best leg-spinners of Indian cricket is a surprise inclusion in this list. According to various Indian news outlets, Indian cricketer Amit Mishra was arrested in 2015 when a female friend filed a complaint of physical assault. He was alleged to have thrown a kettle at the woman.

Mishra was supposedly interrogated at the Ashok Nagar police station in Bengaluru but was granted bail in the police station and released within a few hours of his arrest.

The 35-year-old has played 22 Tests and 36 One Day Internationals for India. He was one of the most gifted leg-spinners the game has ever produced. Mishra took 156 wickets in International cricket (ODIs and Tests combined) and 535 wickets in first-class cricket.

#1 Ben Stokes (England)

Arguably the best all-rounder in world cricket right now

One of the most promising all-rounders in world cricket, Stokes is currently going through a tough period. He was arrested after an alleged late-night pub fight in Bristol that left a man in hospital with facial injuries.

The England Test vice-captain has not played for the side since the incident. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service announced on Monday that the England all-rounder had been charged following the September incident.

The 26-year-old is due to appear before Bristol Magistrates' Court at a later date.

Stokes has played 39 Tests and 62 One Day International for England. He has taken 95 wickets in tests and 53 in One Day Internationals, along with 2429 runs in tests and 1650 runs in ODIs. He was one of the most consistent all-rounders over the last couple of years and played a key part in England's ODI revolution.