Make match-fixing a criminal offence in Pakistan: Shoaib Akhtar lashes out at 'incompetent' PCB after Umar Akmal's ban

In the past couple of decades, Pakistan have been grappling with many match-fixing incidents and it has been a spot of bother for the Men in Green. Many players have been involved in match-fixing and according to former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar, the PCB has not been serious enough to punish the offenders. Akhtar lashed out at the board for not taking serious action against individuals who indulge in the act of match-fixing.

Akhtar’s remarks came a day after wicket-keeper batsman Umar Akmal was banned for three years for not reporting a match-fixing approach. Under the PCB’s anti-corruption code, a player is required to immediately report to a team manager or the officials of the anti-corruption unit after he receives a match-fixing offer. As the incidents of match-fixing continue to rise in Pakistan cricket, many former players including Shoaib Akhtar have voiced the opinion to curb the issue.

Akhtar opined that match-fixing should be made a criminal offence in Pakistan. The Rawalpindi Express also expressed his concern over the absence of legislation to criminalise match-fixing. According to the pacer, there is an urgency of bringing such a law and this can only be done in the national assembly.

Shoaib Akhtar also lashes out at Mohammad Amir

“Why cannot you make match-fixing a criminal offence in Pakistan? You can give a jail term or seize the offenders’ property, it will put fear in people, the PCB and their legal team are being incompetent, why there is no legislation to criminalise match-fixing,” Akhtar said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.

“Now there are people who are asking PCB to bring in legislation to criminalise match-fixing. I want to ask those people what did you do when you held positions in the PCB. There is an urgent of bringing such a law and this can only be done in the national assembly,” he added.

Shoaib Akhtar also slammed Mohammad Amir for turning his back on the national side after his return to international cricket. Amir was caught in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010 but the pacer made a comeback for Pakistan. However, Amir decided to bid farewell to Test cricket. Akhtar expressed his grief and said that Amir did not repay the country back post his comeback.

“Why did you bring back Mohammad Amir? Why there are different guidelines for different players? You tried to make Amir a star, you bypassed all guidelines, and what did Amir do? He said I won’t play Test cricket, there you go,” Akhtar said in the video.

Here’s the video: