The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended batsman Umar Akmal with immediate effect under its anti-corruption code.

Akmal, who last played for Pakistan in October 2019, is under investigation and has been suspended under article 4.7.1 of the code. He cannot partake in any cricket-related activities pending the PCB’s anti-corruption ongoing investigation. 

The article reads: “Where either (a) the PCB decides to charge a participant with an offence under this anti-corruption Code; or (b) the PCB considers that there are other exceptional circumstances relevant to a participant (for example, where any relevant police authority has arrested and/or charged a participant with an offence under any relevant criminal law in respect of facts or circumstances that may also constitute an offence under this anti-corruption code), it, shall have the discretion, in circumstances where it considers that the integrity of the sport could otherwise be seriously undermined, to provisionally suspend the participant pending the anti-corruption tribunal’s determination of whether he/she has committed an offence.

“Any decision to provisionally suspend the participant will be communicated to the participant in writing, with a copy sent at the same time to the ICC and, where applicable, the national cricket federation to which the participant is affiliated.”

The PCB offered no further comments on the matter. 

Akmal was set to turn out for Quetta Gladiators in the 2020 Pakistan Super League, which begins on Thursday. The defending champions have named all-rounder Anwar Ali as his replacement.