Umer Akmal banned for three years over corruption charges
The 29-year-old was provisionally suspended by the anti-corruption unit of the PCB on Feb 20.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Controversial Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been banned from all formats of cricket by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) anti-corruption body on Monday for not reporting a fixing offer.
According to the spokesman for the PCB, Umar Akmal is handed over three-year ban from all cricket by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Mr Justice (r) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan.
The hearing took place at the National Cricket Academy and safety precautions and social distancing measures were strictly enforced in order to safeguard all those involved.
In a detailed hearing, Umar decided to represent himself and was heard at length, while the PCB was represented by Mr Taffazul Rizvi.
Umar was charged with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents on 17 March and he had responded within the stipulated deadline. He was provisionally suspended on 20 February 2020.
PCB Director Anti-Corruption and Security Lt-Col Asif Mahmood, after the verdict said: “The PCB doesn’t take any pleasure in seeing a promising international cricketer being declared ineligible for three years on corruption charges, but this is once again a timely reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anti-corruption code.
“The anti-corruption unit regularly holds education seminars and refresher courses at all levels to remind all professional cricketers of their obligations and responsibilities. And even then if some cricketers decide to take the Code in their hands, then this is how things will pan out.
“I request all professional cricketers to stay away from the menace of corruption and immediately inform relevant authorities as soon as they are approached. This is in their as well as their teams’ and country’s best interest.”
The 29-year-old was provisionally suspended by the anti-corruption unit of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on 20 February, the day when the Pakistan Super League (PSL) commenced in Karachi.
The PCB said Umar violated its code on two counts. "The PCB had charged Umar Akmal with two breaches of the anti-corruption code which relates to not reporting a fixing offer."
Under the PCB anti-corruption code a player is required to immediately report to a team manager or officials of the anti-corruption unit when he receives an offer to fix a match.
Under the code if a player is found guilty the penalty ranges from a suspension of six months to a lifetime ban.
Umar has a history of disciplinary problems, having been arrested and detained for a day after a brawl with a traffic warden in 2014. He was also banned for three months after a spat with then Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur in 2017.
He had escaped punishment after making rude remarks to a fitness trainer in Lahore.
Often described as a talented yet undisciplined cricketer, Umar has played 16 Tests, 121 one-day internationals and 84 Twenty20 internationals since his debut in 2009.
He last played for Pakistan in the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka four months ago, failing to score in either match.
Umar s anti-corruption case is the latest of many that has hit Pakistan cricket in the last 20 years, resulting in life bans and fines for several players.
