Umar Akmal’s three-year ban reduced to 18 months

A three-year suspension imposed on Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has been reduced to a year and a half after independent adjudicator Faqir Muhammad Khokhar conducted a fair trial procedure. The ban will now stay into effect until August 2021.

In April this year, the wicket-keeper batsman was slapped with a three-year ban for breaching Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code that relates to “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 following month, Akmal challenged the PCB seeking a reduced duration on the suspension. The PCB, in response, confirmed it will soon form a panel of independent adjudicators to hear the cricketer’s plea.

Akmal was handed a provisional suspension on February 17 ahead of the 2020 Pakistan Super League (PSL). The PCB then formally charged him a month later, on March 2o. The 30-year-old refused to contest the charges before an Anti-Corruption Tribunal. His case was then transferred to the PCB Disciplinary Panel. In his challenge to the PCB, Akmal stressed on appointing independent adjudicators to help him find some relief.

This is not the first of Akmal’s misdemeanours though. The batsman had previously run into trouble with a staff member after he failed to clear a fitness test. After further inquiry, the PCB revealed there had been some sort of a ‘misunderstanding’ between the two people.