By Muhammad Luqman
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has slapped a three-year ban on middle-order batsman Umar Akmal for not reporting a spot-fixing offer earlier this year,
“Umar Akmal handed three-year ban from all cricket by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Justice (retd) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan,” PCB announced the decision in a tweet on Monday.
The batsman known for scandals and disciplinary violations, was suspended from taking part in any kind of cricket-related activities in February during the Pakistan Super League, a professional Twenty20 cricket league.
He was subsequently charged with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code on March 17, and a detailed hearing was held at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
عمر اکمل پر3 سال کے لیے ہر قسم کی کرکٹ کھیلنے پر پابندی https://t.co/lnI6FMy3y0
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) April 27, 2020
Article 2.4.4 of the code reads: “Failing to disclose to the PCB vigilance and security department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the participant to engage in corrupt conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code”.
Earlier in January, Akmal allegedly misbehaved with a trainer during a fitness test. The PCB said the incident happened due to a misunderstanding.
The 29-year-old, who last played for Pakistan in October 2019, has played 16 Tests, 121 One-Day, and 84 T20 matches, scoring 1,003, 3,194 and 1,690 runs in the three formats respectively.
Two of his brothers, Kamran Akmal and Adnan Akmal, have also represented the national cricket squad. His cousin Babar Azam is currently leading the Pakistani side in T20 format.
In 2018, Akmal had told a media outlet that he was approached by bookmakers during the 2015 World Cup to leave two balls for $200,000.
That offer, he had said, was just one of many he had been approached with over the years.
“I had got an offer during the World Cup to leave two balls alone and they were willing to pay me $200,000 for that,” Akmal had said.
“It was our first match against India in the 2015 World Cup […] in fact, every match I play against India, they offer me money to make some excuse and opt out of the game. But I have told those people that I am very sincere about playing for Pakistan and to not talk to me on this topic ever again,” he had said.
