Umar Akmal Refuses To Disclose Details About Suspected Bookies: PCB Sources  

In a major turn of events, tainted Umar Akmal has refused to disclose the details of his two meeting with the suspected bookies in front of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disciplinary panel which handed him a three-year ban, according to a source close to the board. Reports suggest that Umar Akmal had a meeting with the bookies in Defence Housing Society in Lahore.

The development in Umar Akmal case comes after the PCB disciplinary panel said that the cricketer is unprepared to show remorse and seek apology for failing to report corrupt approaches. The PCB had given him 14 days to respond to the charge but the controversial batsman decided to forego the right to defend himself.

Umar Akmal has refused to tell the Anti-Corruption officials about what he discussed: Souces

Umar Akmal has said that he met the two gentlemen at a party thrown by his friends but refused to disclose further details about them. Akmal, however, has accepted his mistake but refrained from giving any details about the meeting.

“Umar claims both these gentlemen met him at parties thrown by friends in DHA. But he has refused to even tell the Anti-Corruption officials what was discussed at these meetings,” a reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board told PTI.

“Even when the Anti-Corruption officials first presented their report to him on the night between 19th and 20th February in Karachi, Akmal admitted he committed a mistake by not reporting the meetings to them but refrained from giving any details,” the source said.

Umar Akmal was banned by his parent board for failing to report corrupt charges ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The PCB 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”.

Umar Akmal was earlier suspended by the PCB on February 20 and was then subsequently charged with two breaches.