Ramiz Raja Reacts To Umar Akmal's Three Year Ban

Updated - 28 Apr 2020, 12:20 AM

Umar Akmal (Credits - Getty)

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In the wake of Umar Akmal’s sentencing, former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has once again urged the Pakistan authorities to put the match-fixers behind bars for bringing the game and their country to disrepute.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Monday, banned Umar Akmal from all cricket for three years over a corruption case that surfaced on the eve of the fifth edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL). The PCB had formally charged the controversial last month for two breaches of its anti-corruption code in relation to not disclosing invitations to engage in corrupt conduct.

Just hours after the PCB announced the verdict, Ramiz Raja took to Twitter to react to the news. While he rued that a fine talent like Umar Akmal is wasted, he called for such corrupt cricketers to be put in jail for the crimes.

“So Umar Akmal officially makes it to the list of idiots! Banned for 3 years. What a waste of a talent! It’s high time that Pakistan moved towards passing a legislative law against match fixing. Behind bars is where such jack a***s belong! Otherwise brave for more!!” Ramiz Raja tweeted.

So Umar Akmal officially makes it to the list of idiots! Banned for 3 years. What a waste of a talent! It’s high time that Pakistan moved towards passing a legislative law against match fixing. Behind bars is where such jack asses belong! Otherwise brave for more!!

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) April 27, 2020

Earlier this month, Ramiz Raja had slammed the PCB for reintegrating players such as Mohammad Amir and Sharjeel Khan into the national team setup despite their involvement in spot-fixing. Amir served time in prison along with a 5-year ban while Sharjeel was also handed a 5-year ban (half of it suspended).

“You ask me I would say these tainted cricketers should open their grocery shops. I have no doubt that giving concession to big names also damaged Pakistan cricket,” Ramiz Raja had said, referring to Amir.

“There is once again talks of redrafting Sharjeel Khan into the team which is not right and can damage Pakistan cricket,” he had added.

Meanwhile, the latest ban comes as a huge setback for Umar Akmal, whose career has been plagued with several controversies. The controversial batsman has been involved in several incidents of indiscipline since his debut in 2009.

In September 2017, he copped a three-month ban for publicly criticising then Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur. Earlier this year, he was reprimanded by the PCB for misbehaving after failing a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy. He had reportedly exposed himself to a trainer in frustration at one point.