Umar Akmal charged for breaching PCB's anti-corruption code twice, could face a lifetime ban

Umar Akmal made his international cricket in 2009. At the time of his debut, Akmal was called to be the answers of Pakistan’s middle-order problems. He was rated highly with regards to the ability to score runs and that too quickly. But, unfortunately, the batsman career never got the boost everyone talked about.

Being inconsistent with the bat on a regular basis led to the downfall of the player. His last appearance for Pakistan was during the T20I series last year in which he had made a comeback but failed to deliver. His last ODI appearance has also been close to a year now.

Umar Akmal has donned the Pakistan jersey in 121 ODIs and 16 Tests

After spending 11 years, just being in and out of the national side, Akmal has been charged for breaching the anti-corruption code of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to the well-placed sources, the 29-year-old has been suspected of breaching the code twice. It has been revealed that PCB has charged Akmal for breaches of article 2.4.4 of the PCB anti-corruption code on two separate incidents.

Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code states: “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”.

According to Article 6.2, the range of permitted period of ineligibility for those accused and found wrong for a violation of Article 2.4.4 is a minimum of six months and a maximum of a lifetime.

The batsman has been issued a notice by the board earlier this week. He has been told to respond to the charges in writing within the end of this month. The last day of submission of the response has been set to March 31. The batsman was provisionally suspended in February.

Umar Akmal has played 121 ODIs, 16 Tests and 84 T20Is. He is the brother of Kamran, the former wicket-keeper batsman of Pakistan. Kamran Akmal has more experience though, with 157 ODIs, 53 Tests and 57 T20Is. Their third brother Adnan Akmal has also represented Pakistan in five ODIs and 21 Tests. Umar is also the cousin of the current Pakistan T20 captain, Babar Azam.