ICC to question Umar Akmal over match-fixing claims

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought to question the Pakistan international Umar Akmal on grounds of match-fixing claims. The 28-year-old was reportedly approached for match-fixing and the cricket’s governing body has asked him the reason for not approaching ICC’s Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) over the same.

In June, Akmal had revealed in an interview to Pakistan’s SAMAA TV that he had been offered money to fix games whenever his country played against the arch-rivals India.

“They offered me $0.2 million to leave two balls in the cricket World Cup. An offer was also made in the 2015 edition of the tournament as well,” he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The batsman, who averages 36 in Tests and 35 in ODIs, said the fixers would promise him money if he missed or left a game. Akmal got out to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja against India during the group game in the last World Cup in Adelaide. Pakistan lost that game comfortably by 76 runs.

Akmal also featured in the Pakistani side that took on India in the semifinal of the 2011 World Cup which also was lost by Pakistan by 29 runs. Akmal was castled by Harbhajan Singh on that occasion when he was looking threatening.

I am dedicated to my country

“I told them that I am very dedicated to Pakistan and that they should not talk about such things with me,” Akmal, whose last international appearance for his country was in January 2017, said.

Umar Akmal, brother of former Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, also said that he had repeatedly informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about the offers that were made to him. The PCB also served a show cause notice to Akmal over failing to report about a match-fixing approach and asked him to be present before a tribunal.

He has been at the centre of controversies and disciplinary issues since making his debut in both the Tests and ODIs way back in 2009. He has so far played 16 Tests, 116 ODIs and 82 T20Is for Pakistan.

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