Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has been banned from all cricketing activities for three years after he failed to report corrupt approaches.
The ban was announced at a disciplinary panel on Monday and was regarding two unrelated incidents in which the player failed to report the corruption to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). As a result, the PCB charged him with two breaches of the organisation’s anti-corruption code.
PCB’s director of anti-corruption and security Asif Mahmood stated: “The PCB doesn’t take any pleasure in seeing a promising international cricketer being declared ineligible for three years on corruption charges,
“But this is once again a timely reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anti-corruption code. I request all professional cricketers to stay away from the menace of corruption and immediately inform relevant authorities as soon as they are approached.
“This is in their as well as their teams’ and country’s best interest.”
Akmal is a well-known figure at international level having played 121 one-day internationals and 84 T20 internationals for Pakistan. However, his recent inclusion has been sporadic since 2017 after a string of disciplinary issues, including failing fitness tests and criticising then coach Mickey Arthur, which landed the athlete a three-match ban.
The cricketer was also provisionally suspended in February due to the allegations and refused an earlier hearing before the anti-corruption tribunal.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has stepped up its corruption policies in order to stamp out an issue that has recently embroiled the sport. This has included teaming up with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) to strengthen actions against corruption and match-fixing in the sport.
