Umar Akmal faces ban for violating anti-corruption code

LAHORE: Middle-order batsman Umer Akmal faces ban as he has been charged with violation of PCB Anti-Corruption Code for not taking the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in to confidence for approaches by bookies.

PCB officials, who were busy perhaps earlier in PSL-5 fanfare, on Friday got time to charge vocal Umar Akmal with two breaches of article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents.

According PCB the Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code reads as: “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”. Umar Akmal was issued the Notice of Charge on Tuesday, March 17, and has 14 days (March 31 2020) to respond in writing to the charge.

According to Article 6.2, the range of permissible period of ineligibility for those charged and found guilty for a violation of Article 2.4.4 is a minimum of six months and a maximum of a lifetime. Umar Akmal was provisionally suspended on 20 February 2020.

Quetta Gladiators were also allowed to apply for replacement of Akmal. According to some reports, Akmal was allegedly found asking his trainer about the fat, exposing himself entirely during the test. “Where is the fat?,” he asked his trainer.

Umar’s brother Kamran Akmal defended his action had said that his entire action was nothing but a complete “misunderstanding. He had stated that Umar had done it in “mischief”. The PCB will not make any further comment pending the outcome on this case. If the charges against the batsman were proved, he will most likely be banned.