Hansie Cronje's Name Was Dragged Through The Mud In Match-Fixing Scandal, But He Was Not The Only One

Cricket and match-fixing have always gone hand in hand. The stories of disgrace and dishonesty have always brought great shame to the sport. There has been a number of high-profile players who have given in to the lure of money.

We are only humans and our minds are complicated. Over the decades, players have been involved and caught in match-fixing scandals. Playing for their countries, many big names just couldn't resist and got themselves into trouble.

So, here's a list of 6 players who had no integrity and messed it up badly.

Take a look:

Hansie Cronje, South Africa

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The hugely popular former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje is still considered one of the best cricketers in South Africa. In 2000, it was the beginning of an end for Cronje, after it was revealed there was a conversation between him and Sanjay Chawla, a representative of an Indian betting syndicate, over match-fixing allegations.

Along with him, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje, and Pieter Strydom were also implicated. After an inquiry by the King Commission, Cronje was banned from any involvement in cricket for life. He challenged the ban, but his request was rejected.

It brought an abrupt end to a great career. He sadly passed away in 2002 in a plane crash.

Mohammad Azharuddin, India

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One of India's most successful and renowned captains, Mohammad Azharuddin was a famous name in Indian cricket in 1980s and 1990s. After playing 99 Tests and 334 ODIs, he was found guilty of match-fixing and banned for life in 2000.

It was one of the most talked about episodes in sports, after it came to light that Indian captain was involved in a match-fixing scandal. The life ban was lifted in 2012, after Andhra Pradesh High Court declared the life ban illegal.

But it was simply too late to get his career back on track as he was 49 years-old. Also, the damage to his reputation was already done.

Ajay Jadeja, India

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After being a regular and consistent performer in India team through the 1990s, Jadeja's cricketing achievements were later overshadowed by a 5-year ban for match-fixing in early 2000. The ban was later quashed by the Delhi High Court on 27 January 2003, making Jadeja eligible to play domestic and international cricket.

But Jadeja failed to add anything more to his 15 Tests and 196 ODI matches international career.

Salim Malik, Pakistan

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Malik captained Pakistan in tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe before being suspended from cricket having been accused of bribery. He was however found innocent and allowed to continue his career.

Malik played his last Test match in January 1999 but ended his cricket career in disgrace, having been given a life ban as a result of Justice Qayyam's enquiry in May 2000

Manoj Prabhakar, India

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Manoj Prabhakar was took 96 wickets in Test cricket, 157 wickets in One Day Internationals, and over 385 first class wickets playing for Delhi.

In 1999, Prabhakar participated in Tehelka's expose of match-fixing, but was himself charged of involvement and subsequently banned by the BCCI from playing cricket.

Herschelle Gibbs, South Africa

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In his prime, Gibbs was one of the most destructive batsmen in the world. On his day, he would take the game away single-handedly and muscle it around the park.

Having notoriously been involved in the fixing scandal alongside his then captain Hansie Cronje, who offered him $15,000 to score "less than 20" in the 5th One-Day International of a series.

He tearfully claimed to the King Commission of inquiry into corruption in South African cricket that he did not follow through on his side of the bargain, scoring 74 runs. As a result, he was banned for only six months.