Arrested XI - Top Shady Cricketers Who Have Gotten Jailed

S Sreesanth gets arrested by security agencies [Source: Twitter]

Cricket, despite being known as a 'Gentlemen's Game'; players who have participated in the sport have tainted its reputation, both on-and-off the field. Over the years, active as well as retired cricketers, both international and domestic, have been arrested for their non-sporting activities, resulting in their imprisonment for misconduct and illegal deeds.

In this list, we make an cricketers XI, who were arrested and served their time behind the bars. 

Navjot Singh Sidhu

One of the most explosive batters, India's Navjot Singh Sidhu, played cricket for 19-long years before moving into politics. However, fondly known as 'Sixer Sidhu, the opener was arrested in a road-rage-related case in 1988 and was later sent to jail in May 2022 for one year.

Sidhu played 51 Tests and 136 ODIs for India scoring 7,615 runs with 15 centuries and 48 half-centuries. 

Salman Butt

A promising career cut short due to spot-fixing, Pakistan's Salman Butt was destined to achieve great height, having started his career on a high. Butt, who captained Pakistan, was banned by ICC on charges of spot-fixing in 2010 and later served time in England prison for 30 months for participating in a betting scam. 

Butt played 33 Tests, 78 ODIs, and amassed 4,614 runs across both formats, hitting 11 tons.

Suresh Raina

Mr. Indian Premier League (IPL) or better known as Suresh Raina, is one of the most talented players ever to take the field; the star all-rounder flouted the law and paid the consequences. In 2020 during the peak COVID restrictions in India, Raina was arrested by Mumbai Police for partying at a nightclub along with singer Guru Randhawa.

The Chennai Super Kings legend, who appeared in 18 Tests, 226 ODIs, and 78 T20Is was later released on bail. 

Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh, who is regarded as one of the best all-rounders in limited-overs cricket, found himself on the wrong side of the law in 2021. Singh, who was ICC World Cup 2011 Player of the Series, was arrested by Haryana police over accusations of making casteist remarks by a fellow cricketer.

Singh, who played 402 international matches for India was later released on bail as per Haryana High Court Orders. 

Kusal Mendis

Sri Lanka's talented wicket-keeper batter Kusal Mendis was arrested in 2020 for manslaughter after hitting a 64-old-man with his car in Colombo. 

Mendis was taken into immediate custody after the man, unfortunately, passed away due to fatal injuries. Mendis, 37, was granted bail on the next day, with investigation agencies looking into the possibility of drunk-and-driving. 

Ben Stokes

England's current Test captain Ben Stokes, who has changed the face of red-ball cricket lately, was arrested in 2017 outside a bar in Bristol. Stokes, who spent a night in prison, was arrested on charges of assault, but inconclusive evidence and eyewitness accounts cleared the all-rounder of any suspicion.  

Stokes was also detained by police back in 2012 during a night out.

Imran Khan

One of the most recent arrests, which has caught the eye of millions is former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. Khan, who guided Pakistan to their maiden World Cup triumph in 1992, was arrested on August 5 for his involvement in the Toshakhana case for a three-year term.

Khan, who played 88 Tests and 175 ODIs, is regarded as one of the best all-rounders to have ever stepped foot on a cricket ground.

Amit Mishra

One of the smartest of spinners, Amit Mishra found himself in a legal mess after a woman accused the Indian bowler of assault in 2015. The lady in the FIR stated that the spinner physically assaulted and abused her in a hotel room.  

Mishra was arrested by Bangalore police and was grilled by officers for three hours before being released on bail. 

Wasim Akram

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram along with other fellow cricketers were arrested in West Indies in 1993. While parting on a beach, Akram and others were arrested in Grenada for possession of an illegal drug, which upon further investigation proved to not be marijuana. 

The 'Sultan of Swing' was released on bail, with the case's outcome remaining uncertain. Akram was further involved in the match-fixing scandal as well that rocked Pakistan cricket following the ' Justice Qayyum' report.

Makhaya Ntini

South Africa's first black-cricketer Makhaya Ntini was arrested in 1998, way before his international career took off. Ntini was accused of sexual assualt of a lady situated in East London, which later were proved false due lack of evidence, and had his six-year term overturned.

The fast bowler ended his stellar career with 390, 266 and 6 wickets in Test, ODIs and T20Is, respectively between 1998 and 2011. 

S Sreesanth

Having won two World Cups for India S Sreesanth found himself on top of the world before every castle he build came down crashing in 2013. Sreesanth was arrested after being accused of spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) while playing for Rajasthan Royals. 

The swing bolwer ended up spending 27 days in India's most infamous Tihar jail, where apparently, Sreesanth survived a murder attempt. The bowler was later acquitted of fixing in 2015 by Supreme Court. 

Cricketers Arrested XI

Navjot Singh Sidhu, Salman Butt, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ben Stokes, Kusal Mendis (wk), Imran Khan (c), Amit Mishra, Wasim Akram, Makhaya Ntini and S Sreesanth.

Notable Mentions: Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Danushka Gunathilaka, Ijaz Ahmed, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mohammad Azharuddin, Jesse Ryder.