Former Pakistan international Umar Akmal has been charged by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on two accounts of breaches in the Anti-Corruption Code.
Akmal was issued a notice on Tuesday, March 17, by the apex cricketing body in Pakistan and could be slapped a lifetime ban for two distinct incidents if found guilty.
According to the Board, Umar failed to report approaches made to engage in corrupt conduct. Akmal now has only a fortnight to respond to charges.
Further, Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code pertains to “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”.
However, the range of permissible period of ineligibility for those charged and found guilty for a violation of Article 2.4.4 is a minimum of six months and a maximum of a lifetime. This is according to the clause in Article 6.2.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board today suspended Umar Akmal with immediate effect…he cannot take part in any cricket-related activity pending the investigation being carried out by PCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit,” PCB stated in a release.
Akmal already was provisionally suspended on February 20, facing disciplinary charges after misbehaving with one of the staff members.
Also, he was banned from playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2020) for the Lahore Qalandars. The younger of two Akmal brothers last represented for Pakistan during the T20Is against Sri Lanka, back in October 2019.
