Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal banned for 3 years

'Umar Akmal handed three-year ban from all cricket by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Mr Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan,' said PCB

Lahore: Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Umar Akmal has been banned for three years from all forms of cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday (April 27).

On its Twitter account, the PCB's media department wrote, “Umar Akmal handed three-year ban from all cricket by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Mr Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan.”

The 29-year-old right-handed batsman was suspended for breaching PCB’s anti-corruption code. Akmal has played 16 Tests, 121 ODIs and 84 T20Is for Pakistan.

After a hearing at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, PCB made the decision to ban Akmal.

Lt Col Asif Mahmood, PCB Director - anti-corruption and security, said, “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.

He added, “The anti-corruption unit regularly holds education seminars and refresher courses at all levels to remind all professional cricketers of their obligations and responsibilities. And even then if some cricketers decide to take the Code in their hands, then this is how things will pan out.

“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.”