Pakistan's Umar Akmal banned for 3 years from all forms of cricket for breaching anti-corruption code

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel, Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan on Monday for breach of two anti-corruption code of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Akmal has been banned from cricket for three years after the disciplinary committee ruled that the Pakistan batsman failed to report multiple approaches by corrupt elements while violating Article 2.4.4 of the PCB's code of conduct on two occasions.

PCB Director Anti-Corruption & Security, Lt Col Asif Mahmood "PCB doesn’t take any pleasure in seeing a promising cricketer being declared ineligible for 3 years, but this is again a reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anti-corruption code"

The PCB reportedly had Akmal confessing being in touch with bookies, on tape, which gave no other option to Akmal besides accepting the offence. Apparently, the PCB had confiscated Akmal’s mobile phone.

Akmal accepting his mistake was expected to provide him with some relief in terms of the length of the ban similar to that of Mohammad Irfan. However, the three-year-ban has ended those expectations. His ban is effective from February 20, when he was provisionally suspended by the board under its anti-corruption code, which states a player must report being approached to fix games.

Article 2.4.4 of the code reads: “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”.