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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the ban was imposed by the chair of the Discipline Panel, Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan, who held a hearing on Monday.
“Umar Akmal issued a three-year ban on all crickets by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel, Mr. Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan,” reads a tweet from the official address of the media department of the PCB.
Umar Akmal delivered the three-year ban on all crickets by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel, Mr. Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan.
– PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) 1587986289000
The 29-year-old appeared before the panel at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore after failing to question a cause notice issued by the PCB Anti-Corruption for failing to report an alleged offer of redress in the 2020 Pakistan Super League.
Once Akmal did not question the PCB notice, the case was transferred to the disciplinary panel, sparking speculation that Umar would escape with a six-month to one-year ban and, at most, a fine.
Akmal last played a Test for Pakistan in late 2009, but his last international appearance was last October in the local T20 series against Sri Lanka.
The PCB said it will release more details as soon as it receives them from Judge Chauhan.
At a hearing held at the National Cricket Academy, Akmal decided to represent himself and was widely heard, while the PCB was represented by Taffazul Rizvi.
Akmal was charged with two violations of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents on March 17.
“The PCB doesn’t like to see a promising international cricket player declared ineligible for three years on corruption charges, but this is again a timely reminder to all who think they can escape by violating the anti-corruption code.” PCB (Anti-Corruption and Security) Director Asif Mahmood said.
“… if some cricketers decide to take the Code into their own hands, then this is how things will work.
“I request all professional cricketers to stay away from the threat of corruption and to immediately inform the relevant authorities as soon as they are approached,” he added.
Akmal was provisionally suspended hours before his PSL team, Quetta Gladiators, faced Islamabad in the opening match of the 2020 PSL edition.
In response to the ban, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja said the time has come to criminalize match-fixing.
“So Umar Akmal is officially on the idiot list! Banned for 3 years. What a waste of talent! It is time for Pakistan to move forward to pass a legislative law against match-fixing. Behind bars is where those donkeys belong! ” brave for more !! Raja tweeted.
Then Umar Akmal officially hits the idiot list! Banned for 3 years. What a waste of talent! It is high ti … https://t.co/SZCl074TfK
– Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) 1587988984000
Akmal is the younger brother of Kamran Akmal, a former wicket fighter from Pakistan, who played 53 tests, 58 T20 and 157 ODI for Pakistan, and a cousin of current captain Babar Azam.
He has appeared in 16 tests, 121 ODI and 84 T20, scoring 1003, 3,194 and 1,690 races respectively.
Akmal promised long after winning a hundred in New Zealand in his Test debut, but he did not live up to the high expectations that came with some good performances early in his career.
Constant confrontations with the authorities also spoiled his stop-start career.
Akmal had escaped before a PCB ban in February for allegedly making crude comments to a coach during an aptitude test at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
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