Umar Akmal Banned From All Cricket For 3 Years

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 cricket board confirmed the news on Twitter, stating that the decision was taken by the chairman of the disciplinary panel Justice Fazal-i-Miran Chauhan. The right-handed batsman was provisionally suspended on February 20.

Umar Akmal handed three-year ban from all cricket by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Mr Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan.

— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) April 27, 2020

The PCB had formally charged him with two breaches of its anti-corruption code for two unrelated incidents on March 20. The charges come under Article 2.4.4, which deals with: “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”.

The PCB gave him 14 days to respond to the charge but the controversial batsman decided to forego the right to defend himself. Consequently, his case went directly to PCB’s disciplinary committee. His decision of not contesting the charges meant, he would accept whatever sanctions Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan imposed on him.

Umar Akmal was initially suspended from all cricket-related activity in February due to what was described as an ongoing investigation. No details on the specifics of the investigation were given at the time. That suspension meant that he missed the entirety of this year’s Pakistan Super League – the first time the whole competition took place in Pakistan.

The latest incident is yet another setback for Umar Akmal whose career has been plagued with a number of controversies. Just days before being charged with the anti-corruption charges, he had found himself in hot water with the PCB for his alleged misbehaviour with a staff member after a failed fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Fortunately for him, the PCB put the incident down to a “misunderstanding” following a two-day inquiry. Umar Akmal last played for Pakistan in October 2019.

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