Naveed Arif banned from cricket for life after being found guilty of match-fixing

Former county cricket club Sussex and Pakistan 'A' team bowler Naveed Arif has been banned from cricket for life after being found guilty of match-fixing.

Arif, who pleaded guilty to six breaches of the English Cricket Board (ECB)'s anti corruption code in connection with a 40-year fixture between Sussex and Kent in August 2011, was banned by the ECB on Wednesday from playing, coaching or participating in any form of the game.

According to The Dawn, ECB Chief Executive David Collier said the announcement sends out a very clear message that the board has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in cricket and that it would root out and punish those who pose a threat to the game's integrity.

The left-arm seamer expressed his regret and apologised for his actions in a statement through his lawyers that said Arif regrets his conduct, which has let him, his teammates, Sussex County Cricket Club and the cricket fraternity down.

The statement also said Arif is deeply ashamed of his actions and consequently bringing the game of cricket into disrepute, adding that the actions were unacceptable and the bowler has no excuses.