England and Pakistan are set to play their first Test on English soil since the 2010 spot-fixing scandal when they meet at Lord’s on Thursday.
Here is a look back at the scandal that shook cricket and the subsequent fall-out:
2010
Aug 28
Britain’s now defunct News of the World tabloid alleges that teenage sensation Mohammad Amir, Pakistan new-ball partner Mohammad Asif and captain Salman Butt agreed to bowl no-balls in return for payment as part of a betting scam in the Lord’s Test against England.
Sep 02
The three Pakistan players are provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council.
Sep 19
A bitter one-day international series becomes even more acrimonious when Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt accuses England of deliberately losing the third match at The Oval.
Sep 20
England batsman Jonathan Trott and Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz have any angry exchange in the Lord’s nets before the start of the fourth ODI.
Trott later apologises to the Pakistanis. England go on to win the series 3-2.
2011
Feb 02
Ijaz Butt retracts his remarks about England’s defeat at The Oval
Feb 05
The ICC ban Salman Butt for 10 years (five suspended), Asif for seven years (two suspended) and Amir for five years.
Sep 16
Amir pleads guilty to accepting corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat.
Nov 01
Salman Butt and Asif are found guilty at London’s Southwark Crown Court of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
Nov 03
Salman Butt is sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, Asif to 12 months and Amir six months. Meanwhile their agent, Mazhar Majeed, is sentenced to two years and eight months.
2015
September 13
Amir, Asif and Butt’s bans all officially end, although Amir’s suspension was relaxed in April.
2016
Jan 15
Amir returns to international cricket, in a Twenty20 against New Zealand in Auckland. He takes one for 31 in his four overs and does not bat in a 16-run Pakistan win before representing his country at the World Twenty20 in India in March.
May 02
Amir is selected for the England tour, leaving him on course to make a Test return on July 14 at Lord’s — the scene of his crime nearly six years earlier.
Jul 03-05
Amir plays his first first-class match back in England when he appears in Pakistan’s tour opener against Somerest at Taunton. The left-arm quick bowls impressively in a first-innings return of three for 36. Earlier in the match, he is out for a second-ball duck — the first delivery he faces is, of all things, a no-ball from Josh Davey. The match ends in a draw.
