Abdul Razzaq Reveals Shahid Afridi Slapped Mohammad Amir to Force Confession in 2010 Spot-Fixing Scandal
Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq disclosed new details about the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, stating that former captain Shahid Afridi physically confronted and slapped fast bowler Mohammad Amir to extract a confession. The scandal, which occurred during Pakistan’s tour of England, resulted in severe International Cricket Council (ICC) sanctions and criminal convictions for three Pakistani players.
How the Spot-Fixing Plot Was Discovered
Speaking on a Pakistani television program, Razzaq explained that the conspiracy was uncovered by chance in London. Mazhar Majeed, the bookmaker orchestrating the fix, handed a broken mobile phone to a part-time repair technician who was a friend of Razzaq.
“What happened was that Mazhar Majeed came to my friend and asked him to repair one of his phones,” Razzaq stated. “When my friend managed to get the phone working late at night, he found several messages between Mazhar and the three players detailing plans to spot-fix in the match.”
Razzaq’s friend immediately forwarded the evidence to him. Razzaq then informed Afridi, the senior-most player in the squad who had recently stepped down as Test captain but remained the white-ball leader.
The Confrontation Between Afridi and Amir
Armed with the text messages, Afridi confronted the 18-year-old Amir in his hotel room. According to Razzaq, Afridi instructed him to wait outside the room while he questioned the young fast bowler.
“Afridi called Amir, who was just 18 then, to his room and asked me to wait outside. I could hear Afridi getting angry and asking him to tell the truth. When he kept denying it, I heard a loud slap and rushed inside,” Razzaq recalled.
Following the physical altercation, Amir broke down in tears and admitted to his involvement in the spot-fixing ring.
Razzaq noted that the situation could have been handled internally if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and team management had taken immediate disciplinary action. He mentioned that senior players suggested sending the involved individuals home and issuing fines before the ICC intervened.
Aftermath and Disciplinary Actions
The failure to act internally led to a massive international fallout following the Lord’s Test. The ICC suspended Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir. A UK Crown Court later handed down criminal sentences to the players and the bookmaker.
2010 Spot-Fixing Scandal Penalties
| Individual | Role | ICC Ban | UK Prison Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salman Butt | Test Captain | 10 years (5 suspended) | 30 months |
| Mohammad Asif | Fast Bowler | 7 years (2 suspended) | 1 year |
| Mohammad Amir | Fast Bowler | 5 years | 6 months |
| Mazhar Majeed | Bookmaker | N/A | 32 months |
Butt and Asif never returned to the national team, though they resumed domestic cricket after serving their bans. Amir, whose young age and early confession factored into his lighter sentence, returned to international competition in 2016. He continued his career through the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, briefly stepping away for a self-imposed retirement between 2020 and 2024.