British police arrest two men in connection with Pakistan's cricket spot-fixing probe

E-Paper | May 12, 2026

Pakistan's investigation into spot-fixing in cricket has spread to Britain with the arrest of two men on suspicion of bribery offences.

The London-based National Crime Agency announced that the unnamed men in their thirties were held on Monday “as part of an ongoing investigation into international cricket match spot-fixing.”

They were released on police bail until April pending further investigations.

The arrests come after three players were suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board as part of its investigation into corruption in the Pakistan Super League.

“As part of the ongoing investigation we are working closely with the Pakistan Cricket Board and International Cricket Council's anti-corruption units,” the National Crime Agency said on Tuesday.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board has launched its own investigation which has resulted in the suspension of three players.”

Nasir Jamshed, who has represented Pakistan's national teams but is not part of any Pakistan Super League franchise, was suspended on Monday after being accused of breaching the PCB's anti-corruption code.

The other two suspended players Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan play for Islamabad United in the league which is being played in the United Arab Emirates.

The PCB has also questioned Zulfiqar Babar of Quetta Gladiators and Shazaib Hassan of Karachi Kings, who all are free to continue playing.

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Sport

PSL final will be held in Lahore if the fans want, says Sethi

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PSL fixing scandal: Sethi says 'players should relax', no further suspensions necessary

Khan

Feb 14, 2017 07:57pm

Here we go again !!!

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Asif

Feb 14, 2017 08:06pm

That is why I urge my friends not to waste time on this game anymore.

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Feb 14, 2017 08:17pm

What a pity-PCB is still not waking up and exposing the talent to corrupt elements by not providing mentoring & training. These players have no exposure to these things and must be adequately trained to deal with corrupt elements in order to save country's image and their own careers.

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Lumdheeng

Feb 14, 2017 08:18pm

All I can say"wow".

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Shahzad

Feb 14, 2017 08:30pm

Well if the people see their leaders getting away with corruption, what are they supposed to learn? Make an honest living?

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Gaf

Feb 14, 2017 08:47pm

@Shahzad WELL SAID. If the people see their leaders NS and co getting away with corruption, what are they supposed to learn?

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Umair

Feb 14, 2017 08:53pm

@S PCB actually provides comprehensive mentoring and training. In addition, as stipulated by ICC each team (including in PSL, IPL etc) go through rigorous briefings before every match as well. It is just Shazaib Hassan chose to follow it whereas others did not. In addition, spot-fixing and match-fixing is rampant currently in all boards. Its just our players are generally caught and Also PCB does not cover things up.. Also @SHAHZAD has a valid point as well.

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Make Pakistan great again

Feb 14, 2017 08:56pm

@Asif Agreed! This game has become a total waste of time. Soccer , hockey, squash, tennis are much better games.

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N_Saq

Feb 14, 2017 09:21pm

What do you expect when corruption is so prevalent in the society that it has become a norm and no one get punished? These players do not fall from the sky, they are also part of the same society. How can you tell others not to do something that you are doing it yourself i.e. corruption, favoritism etc. Pak needs Western administrators as Pak administrators have no moral values and has lost all moral ground. Again, give the keys to Ian Chappel and everything and everyone will be straightened out in cricket quickly.

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Imtiaz

Feb 14, 2017 09:26pm

Well well I had thought that PCB actually caught the said players and I was pleasantly surprised. Now I know that other agencies had shown proofs to PCB and only then PCB acted.

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joe

Feb 14, 2017 09:30pm

you let jailed players on fixing games resume their cricketing career,then what do you expect.. Now do not tell us they underwent punishment..

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Javed Rahman

Feb 14, 2017 09:31pm

@N_Saq true hundred percent agreed

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Gaf

Feb 14, 2017 09:39pm

These players are learning from the current leaders and Pak society in general. Especially when they see on TV everyday PM and his family blatantly lie to hide corruption. If the top can get away with it why not ordinary people, sportsmen and women. Way to go people of Pakistan keep voting in your corrupt leaders and see the same old stories repeated year in year out.

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Syed

Feb 14, 2017 10:13pm

@Gaf couldn't agree more

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Naveed

Feb 14, 2017 11:23pm

@Khan such a waste if our talent.

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sid

Feb 14, 2017 11:56pm

This is all because Pakistan went soft on the original trio who got caught. This proves their punishment was not a deterrent and if PCB is serious about tackling this issue now, they need to dish out severe punishment and also find the culprits amongst them who are no doubt involved with the players...

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Gerry D'Cunha

Feb 15, 2017 12:39am

Cricket game of the 50s,60s and 70s were interesting to watch because the players were determined to play for the country and bring honour.

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Neutral

Feb 15, 2017 12:40am

PCB itself is a corrupt organization so are the players. Pak cricket reputation is going down and down nobody can save it now.

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Qais

Feb 15, 2017 12:49am

The whole country is following corrupt elite, politicians, and establishment.... so don't complain.

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Rajput

Feb 15, 2017 01:32am

@Asif Yes blame the game. What logic. Can't point fingers on yourselves so point at the game

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Rajput

Feb 15, 2017 01:32am

@Make Pakistan great again Yeah right, Pakistan is a leader in those games and let's not forget about olympics. After Olympics all eyes turn towards cricket for consolation hahaha

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Azim

Feb 15, 2017 01:41am

Transparency comes from politicians and majority of Pakistani politicians are corrupt, dishonest and passing their culture to other people. First it was terrorists who kept Pakistani cricket away and when there were slight chances of improvement the old incurable disease started rearing its head again. corruption and terrorism go hand in hand in Pakistan. Shame on you politicians.

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Awaz...

Feb 15, 2017 02:15am

The more people rationalize cheating, the more it becomes a culture of dishonesty. And that can become a vicious, downward cycle. Because suddenly, if everyone else is cheating, you feel a need to cheat, too. In our daily life, we encounter people who are angry, deceitful, intent only on satisfying their own needs. There is so much anger, distrust, greed, and pettiness that we are losing our capacity to work well together.

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Aamir

Feb 15, 2017 02:56am

@sid but they won't.

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jose

Feb 15, 2017 03:11am

@Asif u must not be a true cricket fan.

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jose

Feb 15, 2017 03:11am

@Make Pakistan great again who watches hockey n squash now.

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Shazad

Feb 15, 2017 03:30am

The world seems to be collapsing around Pakistani cricket. First the Lahore blasts that indirectly affected any chance of holding a final and bringing international cricket back to Pakistan and now this. After all that went on with Amir and co and the rise of Misbah and succesful test tenure, I thought Pakistan cricket had really turned a corner and now its back to square one again. Only two seasons old and PSL has been tainted. Its just so so disappointing for a young country looking for some cheer and hope.

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a. Ali

Feb 15, 2017 03:40am

shift PSL elsewhere and remove Sethi.

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downunder

Feb 15, 2017 03:54am

@Gaf People vote for corrupt politicians because honest people like yourself only write comments and do not take part in politics.

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Akil Akhtar

Feb 15, 2017 04:46am

As soon as PSL started to become successful bomb went off in Lahore and bookies started targeting the players...wonder who is not happy with its success.

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Sara

Feb 15, 2017 05:28am

@Shahzad well dear certainly our nation is short of leaders,

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Akbar

Feb 15, 2017 07:08am

@Make Pakistan great again. But games do not make us honest or corrupt. It is actually our own self that surfaces up some or how.

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Sachin

Feb 15, 2017 07:20am

@Asif Which alternative game then Asif. People need some entertainement. Look at this- movies were banned, YouTube was banned, valentines day banned, alcohol prohibitted, tv content controlled. Ok we can do away with some stuff. But at the end what all can we ban. The masses are not people like you and me with access to internet but common people like drivers, tailors, plumbers, factory workers, construction and farm workers, road side vendors, coolies, housemaids, private security men, cooks, laundrymen, hotel waiters, cooks, petty traders etc. For them this is the least common factor that enables a conversation. Let's make the game clean and not go on banning stuff.

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BROTHER THERESA

Feb 15, 2017 09:58am

PCB has brought nothing but a bad name to the gentleman's game!

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zaheer

Feb 16, 2017 03:46pm

betting is an international phenomena you just cannot stop it until u have all the bookies behind bars-- why dont u all see there is a huge demand out there-- this is happening in all sports not just cricket-- you have to make the rules tougher so they cannot gamble around them- look at spot fixing -- it is so subtle -- forget honesty-- the lure of money is too great u have to find another way

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