Pakistan’s attacking batsman, Umar Akmal will feel a sigh of relief as his ban from cricket has been reduced from 18 months – which was initially 3 years – to 12 months and he will soon return to cricket. But the court also hit Akmal with a hefty fine of 4.25 million rupees ($26,800) over his role in the incident.
Umar Akmal Ban reduced
“The PCB once again urges and reminds all participants to abide by their duty and promptly report any approaches to the anti-corruption officers and help themselves as well as the anti-corruption unit’s effort to eliminate the anathema of fixing,” the PCB said in the statement.
PCB had banned Akmal from all forms of cricket last month after its disciplinary panel found him guilty of not reporting corrupt approaches ahead of the Pakistan Super League in 2020.
Pakistan cricket authorities hoping for a further reduction filed an additional appeal over the case to the CAS.
“It’s a big relief for Umar,” the cricketer’s brother Kamran told AFP. “He wants to play cricket and return to the field.”
The PCB said Umar would be eligible to compete again after completing a rehabilitation program.
Akmal, 29, is the younger brother of former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, who played 53 Tests, 58 T20s, 157 ODIs, and cousin of current captain Babar Azam.
Akmal, who promised a lot after making a hundred in New Zealand on his Test debut, failed to live up to the high expectations that came with some fine performances early in his career. Constant run-ins with the authorities also marred his stop-start career.
The batsman was also sent home after he failed a fitness test ahead of the 2017 Champions Trophy in England and has been hit with various fines over the years.
Akmal, who last played for Pakistan in October, has featured in 16 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 84 T20s, scoring 1,003, 3,194, and 1,690 runs respectively.
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