The 29-year-old Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has been suspended for three years from all cricket by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Mr Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan. This decision has been taken for breaching the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Anti-Corruption Code.
Just around two months ago, the PCB suspended Umar Akmal under Anti-Corruption Code pending investigation. Later, after the investigation, he was charged with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents.
According to the Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code, “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”.
Later, the PCB confirmed that Umar responded to the Notice of Charge. Now, on Monday (27th April), the Disciplinary Panel has come up with the decision to ban him from the game for three years.
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
Earlier, in an interview, Umar claimed that he was once offered around $200,000 to leave two deliveries of a match. He also got the offers to skip the matches against India. Umar also said that he got some offers in the ICC tournaments.
However, the Pakistan cricketer didn’t mention whether he reported those to the Anti-Corruption Unit or not.
Umar Akmal played 221 international matches for Pakistan:
Umar Akmal made international cricket debut in August 2009. He played 16 Tests, 121 ODIs and 84 T20Is where the right-handed batsman scored 1003 runs (average 35.82), 3194 runs (average 34.34) and 1690 runs (average 26.00).
Like his other elder brothers, Kamran Akmal and Adnan Akmal, Umar also played as a wicket-keeper for Pakistan but not regularly.
Umar played the game for the last time in last December during the final of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019/20 (domestic first-class tournament). In that game against Northern, the Central Punjab cricketer smashed the match-winning double-century (218 runs), and at the end of that game, he was selected for the Player of the Match award along with his teammate Bilal Asif.
While Umar missed out the PSL 2020 due to the suspension, his team Quetta Gladiators chose Anwar Ali as his replacement.