Speaking to a Pakistani TV channel, Akmal said that he had been approached at various points, including during the World Cup and other matches against India, which he had been asked to miss. The PCB served him a notice almost immediately after the news became public, asking him to meet its anti-corruption officials – on June 27 in Lahore – for clarifications.

While there is no suggestion that Akmal, 28, had accepted money on any of the occasions, not reporting an approach is a punishable offence too.

Akmal has played 16 Tests, 116 ODIs and 82 T20Is over the years, and though he is one of the most talented Pakistani batsmen of our times, disciplinary and fitness-related problems have kept him out of international cricket for long stretches. In fact, his last appearance for Pakistan was in January 2017 in an ODI in Australia.