Nasir Jamshaid Issues Apology Over 2017 Spot-Fixing

London – (Web Desk) – Former Pakistani cricket star Nasir Jamshaid has issued a heartfelt apology to Pakistanis and cricket fans worldwide for his involvement in a 2017 spot-fixing and bribery scandal related to T20 matches, including a Pakistan Super League (PSL) fixture.

In his first interview since being arrested and later convicted by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in February 2017, Jamshaid revealed he struggled deeply while in jail and even contemplated suicide. Convicted in February 2020 at Manchester Crown Court, he served 17 weeks in prison and was banned from all forms of cricket for ten years.

Speaking from his home near Birmingham, Jamshaid said, “I apologise to Pakistanis and cricket fans all over the world. I am deeply ashamed. What I did was completely wrong. My advice to young players is to never get involved in corruption—it can ruin your life and those around you. I hope others learn from my mistakes.”

Jamshaid, who played more than 60 matches for Pakistan, shared how his wife, Dr. Samara, and their daughter, Haniya, helped him survive the darkest moments in prison. “I thought about ending my life many times, but my wife kept me going. Seeing my daughter gave me hope and strength to keep fighting. I can never thank her enough for saving my life,” he said.

He also appealed to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to consider lifting his ban, which has about a year left. “I would be grateful if the PCB could reconsider my situation. I have already served nine years of the ban,” he said.

Jamshaid admitted his role in the conspiracy, explaining, “I was involved with Yousef Anwar, who wanted to meet Pakistani players in Dubai. I connected him with Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, encouraging them to help him in exchange for money.”

Additionally, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority recently fined Jamshaid’s lawyer, Shahid Ali of Osborne Knight Solicitors, £40,000 plus £30,000 in legal costs following disciplinary action.

Ali was found guilty of dishonesty and serious professional misconduct in his handling of Jamshaid’s funds and communications during the criminal proceedings. The complaint had been filed by Jamshaid’s wife, Dr Samara Afzal, a senior doctor working in Birmingham.

Jamshaid welcomed the decision, saying it demonstrated how his own lawyer mishandled his case.

He said: “From the moment I was arrested by the NCA, my lawyer Shahid Ali advised me not to plead guilty, to cease all contact with the PCB, and to maintain that I had not taken part in the spot-fixing conspiracy. He asked me to give no comment to the police. I told him during our first meeting and subsequent meetings exactly what had happened and what my role was — that I was guilty of corruption.

“I went for no comment during my police interviews, but I could tell from the questioning that they had full evidence against me. I told Shahid Ali the same, but he insisted I should not plead guilty and said he would find some way to save me.”

“He assured me everything would be alright and that he would handle everything to my satisfaction. He failed me through bad advice. He was only interested in making money.”

The disciplinary proceedings also examined Ali’s handling of crucial covert audio evidence recorded in both English and Urdu. Ali, a fluent Urdu speaker, had listened to the recordings in August 2019 at a secure NCA location but told Jamshaid and instructed counsel that the Urdu portions were largely inaudible and not damaging to the defence.

When later transcribed and played in court, the conversations were found to be clear and strongly indicative of Jamshaid’s involvement. Jamshaid subsequently changed his plea to guilty mid-trial.

Jamshaid said: “I was assured again and again by Shahid Ali that the audio involving me, Yousef and the secret officer was not damaging and inaudible in many parts. He lied to me. I was shattered to learn the recordings were very clear and that my solicitor had not told my barrister about their contents. I immediately decided to change my defence to a guilty plea on the sixth day of the trial.”

Asked why he joined the criminal syndicate, Jamshaid said he wanted quick money: “I desperately needed money at that time because my father had suffered a brain haemorrhage and was in a coma in ICU for many months. I needed funds for his treatment. I was too embarrassed to ask my wife for help. I thought I was helping my family, but I didn’t realise I was about to ruin many lives, including my own, through reckless judgment. I deeply regret it and wish I could turn back time. I have paid a huge price.”

Jamshaid said that had he been properly advised, he might have faced only a short conviction, and his ban would already be over.

“Shahid Ali gave me completely wrong advice and got me into more mess than I was already in. My life was turned upside down. He told me that if I pleaded guilty, I would lose my family and go to jail, so I was scared.”

Jamshaid spoke out after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal condemned Ali as dishonest.

The Tribunal heard that during an NCA search of Dr Afzal’s home, approximately £5,500 in cash was seized and later returned to Ali in September 2017. Ali failed to record this money in a client ledger and retained it for nearly two years while repeatedly denying to Jamshaid and Dr Afzal that he had received it.

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It was also revealed that in October 2019, Jamshaid handed Ali a further £15,000 in cash, believing it was for legal fees. It later emerged that Jamshaid’s case was funded by legal aid. Ali misled the couple about the money’s purpose and admitted under cross-examination that earlier statements — secretly recorded by Dr Afzal — were untrue.

Dr Samara Afzal told Geo News: “The Tribunal concluded that Ali provided misleading information to me and Nasir and ruled his conduct dishonest by the standards of ordinary, decent people. He committed numerous breaches of professional obligations. He falsely implied he was contacting third parties to recover the cash, when he had been holding it himself.

“After I filed the complaint, I received a threatening call advising me to withdraw it. A recording was provided to the SRA, although Ali denied involvement. I am considering further action.”

Dr Afzal said Ali also mishandled key audio evidence, stopped Jamshaid from pleading guilty early, gave false hope and even hid evidence from his barristers.

“I was forced to contact a PCB representative in court to relay to the NCA that Nasir wished to change his plea. His case was totally mishandled. He made a mistake and deserved punishment, but he was prevented from pleading guilty early and moving on. Senior Counsel confirmed that had Nasir been properly advised, he could have entered an earlier guilty plea and possibly faced a lesser sentence.”

While the Tribunal did not uphold this allegation on the balance of probabilities, Dr Afzal maintains Ali intentionally misled both client and counsel for financial gain and is now considering further legal action.

Several attempts were made to contact Shahid Ali for comment, but he did not respond.

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Nasir Jamshaid was jailed for 17 months after the plot was uncovered by an undercover officer. Co-conspirators Yousef Anwar and Mohammed Ijaz pleaded guilty and were imprisoned. They had met a man they believed to be part of an illegal betting syndicate at a Birmingham shisha café — he was in fact an undercover NCA officer.

In Pakistan, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were formally charged by the PCB for violating the anti-corruption code and were banned for five years and two-and-a-half years, respectively.