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.