Crescent Kashmir

Umar Akmal banned for three years from all forms of cricket for corruption charges

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Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket for three years on corruption charges, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday.

“Umar Akmal handed three-year ban from all cricket by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Mr Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a tweet.

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

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Umar, who turns 30 next month, pleaded guilty to not reporting spot-fixing offers in 2020 Pakistan Super League (PSL) which led to his provisional suspension on February 20 this year.

The PCB formally charged Umar with two breaches of its anti-corruption code for two unrelated incidents on March 20. The charges come under Article 2.4.4 of the Board’s Anti-Corruption Code which indicates that players can be punished for a minimum of five years if they fail to report all the corrupt approaches made to them during any event.

In a hearing held at the National Cricket Academy, Akmal decided to represent himself and was heard at length, while the PCB was represented by Taffazul Rizvi.

“The PCB doesn’t take any pleasure in seeing a promising international cricketer being declared ineligible for three years on corruption charges, but this is once again a timely reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anti-corruption code,” PCB Director (Anti-Corruption and Security) Asif Mahmood, said.

“…if some cricketers decide to take the Code in their hands, then this is how things will pan out. I request all professional cricketers to stay away from the menace of corruption and immediately inform relevant authorities as soon as they are approached,” he added.

The Quetta Gladiators’ batsman had also escaped a PCB ban in February for allegedly making crude remarks to a trainer during a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Umar last played a Test for Pakistan in late 2009 but his last international appearance was in last October in the T20 home series against Sri Lanka. He has featured in 16 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 84 T20Is for Pakistan.

(with PTI inputs)

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