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Umar Akmal ‘not prepared to show remorse’ for corruption offences

by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

Umar Akmal “is not prepared to show remorse and seek apology” for failing to adhere to the PCB’s anti-corruption code, said Justice Fazal-E-Miran Chauhan, the disciplinary panel chairman who handed the Pakistan batsman a three-year ban from all cricket.

Akmal received the ban last month after being charged with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB’s anti-corruption code, which 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.”

The charges were for two unrelated approaches, with the second charge specifically linked to an approach to engage in corrupt conduct during the 2020 edition of the Pakistan Super League. Akmal was provisionally suspended by the PCB on the eve of the tournament in February, having been set to play for Quetta Gladiators in their opening match against Islamabad United.

He was charged on March 17, with his case referred to Justice Chauhan on April 9 after he failed to request for a hearing in front of the anti-corruption tribunal.

In the remarks of his judgement on the Akmal case, Justice Chauhan said: “It appears that he [Akmal] is not prepared to show remorse and seek apology, make admission that he failed to fulfill his responsibility under Anti-Corruption Code, Article 2.4.4, rather he tried to take refuge under the pretext that in the past whenever any such approaches were made, the matter was reported by him.”

Akmal was handed two three-year bans for the charges, with both running concurrently, making him available to return to cricket on February 19, 2023.

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