Former Pakistan cricketers are today starting their sentencing behind bars after being found guilty of cheating in the form of match fixing, News of the World uncovered the corruption which layed deeply within Pakistani Cricket and helped bring justice to the trio.
Pakistan’s former captain Salman Butt and fellow players Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have all been given custodial sentences for plotting to fix parts of Pakistan's Lord's and Oval Test matches against England in 2010.
Butt was jailed for 30 months, Asif was given a 12-month term and teenager Amir was handed a six-month sentence for plotting to bowl deliberate no-balls against England.
Mr Justice Cooke said the four men had damaged the image and integrity of the sport.
The judge told the court: "The image and integrity of what was once a game but is now a business is damaged in the eyes of all, including the many youngsters who regarded you as heroes and would have given their eye teeth to play at the levels and with the skills that you had."
He added: "Now whenever people look back on a surprising event in a game or a surprising result, or whenever in the future there are surprising events or results, followers of the game who have paid good money to watch it live or watch it on television will be left to wonder whether there has been fixing and whether what they have been watching is a genuine contest between bat and ball.
"What ought to be honest sporting competition may not be such at all."
That's the price you pay for cheating and it also sends out a clear message that match fixing will not be tolerated in Cricket.
