Cricketer Nasir Jamshaid Apologises for 2017 Spot-Fixing Scandal

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan cricket star Nasir Jamshaid has apologised to Pakistanis and cricket fans worldwide for his involvement in a 2017 spot-fixing and bribery conspiracy, including incidents linked to the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

In his first interview since his arrest and subsequent conviction in Birmingham by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in February 2017, Jamshaid revealed he had contemplated suicide while in prison. He was convicted in February 2020 at Manchester Crown Court, sentenced to 17 months in prison, and banned from all forms of cricket for ten years.

Speaking from his home near Birmingham, Jamshaid said: “I apologise to Pakistanis and cricket fans all over the world. I am ashamed. What I did was completely wrong. My advice to newcomers is never to get involved in corrupt practices because it can destroy you and the people around you.”

He credited his wife, Dr Samara Afzal, and daughter Haniya Jamshaid for saving his life during his darkest moments in jail. “My wife would send me pictures of our daughter, and that brought positivity to my mind. I can never thank her enough for what she did for me,” he said.

Read More: IHC Seeks Government Reply on Under-16 Social Media Safety

Jamshaid admitted facilitating contacts between co-conspirator Yousef Anwar and Pakistan players Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif for monetary gains, acknowledging his full involvement in the conspiracy.

He also revealed that his legal representation had been mishandled. Solicitor Shahid Ali, of Osborne Knight Solicitors, was recently fined £40,000 with £30,000 in legal costs by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for dishonesty and professional misconduct during Jamshaid’s case. Jamshaid said Ali advised him not to plead guilty, misled him about key audio evidence, and prioritized financial gain over proper legal guidance.

Jamshaid said he was forced to change his plea to guilty mid-trial after discovering that audio recordings initially claimed to be inaudible were in fact clear and strongly incriminating. He admitted that financial pressures, including his father’s serious illness, drove him into the criminal syndicate.

He appealed to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to consider ending his ban early, noting that he has already served nine years of his ten-year suspension.

The 2017 scandal also involved Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif in Pakistan, who were banned for five years and two-and-a-half years, respectively, after being charged under the PCB anti-corruption code.

Jamshaid’s revelations highlight the personal and professional toll of corruption, the consequences of poor legal counsel, and the challenges faced by players drawn into spot-fixing conspiracies.