Umar Akmal given green signal to resume club cricket

The Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has been given the green signal to resume club cricket activities as a part of the rehabilitation process which started last month. Akmal has expressed guilt, attended an anti-corruption lecture, and participated in a Q&A session conducted by the Security and Anti-Corruption Department in the entire process that has been completed to date. He will be eligible to take part in the Pakistan domestic cricket season 2021-22 after the completion of his rehabilitation program which is expected to be done by the next month.

Umar Akmal was banned from all forms of cricket for a period of three years by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Disciplinary Panel on grounds of corruption charges. However later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his ban to 12 months and a fine of 4.25 million Pakistani Rupees was imposed on him for breaching the PCB‘s Anti-Corruption Code.

Akmal had to face suspension for not reporting a corrupt approach ahead of the start of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The batter, however, had claimed to have learned the right lessons in this period. He also apologized for the disrepute his actions would have caused to the cricket in the country.

“17 months ago, I made a mistake which caused damage to my cricket and career. I learnt a lot during this time and due to that mistake, Pakistan cricket’s reputation suffered badly. I ask for forgiveness from the PCB and from cricket fans around the world,” said Umar in a video released by the PCB as reported by Sportstar.

I couldn’t play cricket despite being a cricketer: Umar Akmal

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has represented the country in 16 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 84 T20Is. The ban however brought a pause to his cricketing career. He expressed his feelings on not being able to play cricket and also opened up about the importance of reporting these matters to the concerned authorities at the earliest.

” I couldn’t play cricket despite being a cricketer. I, Umar Akmal, would like to request all of you, as ambassadors of the sport, to stay away from any suspicious activities. If any suspicious individuals approach you, please report it to the anti-corruption unit in a timely manner so that your record and career remain clean,” Akmal had asserted.