PCB reveals why Umar Akmal was handed a three-year ban from international cricket

Pakistan’s Umar Akmal hogged the headlines in the previous month as he was banned by Pakistan Cricket Board for three years from all forms of cricket after the wicketkeeper-batsman failed to report a corrupt 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 any match-fixing approach.

In a career marred with many controversies, the three-year ban is another blot in the wicketkeeper-batsman’s career. PCB has now released a detailed insight into batsman Umar’s corruption case, explaining why he was handed a ban of three years.

Chairman of the Independent Disciplinary Panel, Mr Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan, revealed that the wicketkeeper-batsman ‘is not prepared to show remorse and seek apology’. It was also confirmed by PCB that the Umar will be eligible to start playing cricket again on February 19, 2023.

“It appears that he (Umar Akmal) is not prepared to show remorse and seek an apology, make the admission that he failed to fulfil his responsibility under Anti-Corruption Code, Article 2.4.4, rather he tried to take refuge under the pretext that in the past whenever any such approaches were made, the matter was reported by him,” Chauhan said in the PCB release.

“As far as Charge No.1 is concerned, I do not see any circumstances to mitigate the nature of offence, particularly, when the participant (Umar Akmal) has not cooperated with the PCB Vigilance and Security Department and the investigating team.”

Umar Akmal admitted that he failed to report the approaches: PCB

The PCB release also shed light about Umar’s failure in disclosing the corrupt approaches to the Anti-Corruption Department. According to the PCB release, the charge on the Pakistan international has been proved and hence, Umar has rendered himself liable to be punished.

“In view of the admission of the participant (Umar Akmal) that he failed to disclose to PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, the details of the approaches and invitations extended to him without unnecessary delay. The charge as framed is proved and the participant (Umar Akmal) has rendered himself liable to be punished for breach of Article 2.4.4.

“Charge No.2, breach of Article 2.4.4 of the Code by failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department of the PCB, full details of the approaches and invitations received by you (Umar Akmal) to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code in respect of matches in PSL 2020.

The release also further stated that Umar himself admitted that he failed to report the corrupt approaches and has rendered himself to be punished under Article 6.2 of the PCB code.

“It is also admitted by him (Umar Akmal) that he failed to report the approaches and invitation to the PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, as required by the PCB Code, Article 2.4.4. In view of the above charge as framed, stood proven and the participant has rendered himself to be punished under Article 6.2 of the PCB Code,” concluded the PCB release.