Troubled Umar Akmal charged by PCB with two breaches

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has charged Umar Akmal with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents.

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.”

The PCB said that Umar Akmal was issued the Notice of Charge on Tuesday (March 17) and has 14 days (31 March 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.

The PCB will not make any further comment pending the outcome on this case, the Board said. Umar was provisionally suspended on February 20, 2020. Following his suspension, Quetta Gladiators had to include discarded international all-rounder Anwar Ali in its squad for the HBL Pakistan Super League.

Hardly a couple of days after the suspension, Kamran Akmal defended his younger brother Umar at a news conference here at the National Stadium. “No decision has come yet about Umar. I request media not to report anything until the outcome of the investigation,” Kamran had said.

“I know my brother Umar. He cannot do any such thing. He is as clean as he was ten years ago when he came to international cricket,” Kamran said. “Umar has helped the anti-corruption unit more than any other player.”