ICC to investigate Umar Akmal's claim of being approached by bookies

Umar has claimed to have been offered money to spot-fix moments while playing for Pakistan.

Umar Akmal (AFP)

Umar Akmal is in the news for wrong reasons again. It is not something new, just that this time he could be in a big trouble. Umar recently in a television interview claimed of being approached by the bookies to spot-fix certain moments of games in which he was involved for Pakistan and this has spurred on the International Cricket Council(ICC) to start investigating. 

Akmal in this interview said that he was offered $200,000 by fixers to leave two deliveries in one of the matches. He also said that he was to receive money conditioning to skip matches against India. 

Umar was quoted, “I was once offered $200,000 for leaving two deliveries. I was also offered to skip matches against India.”

Umar didn't report to the ICC officials at the time and has now invited problems for himself, as according to ICC anti-corruption code 2.4.4 and 2.4.5, players are bound to report all the corrupt approaches made to them during any event and failure of doing so carry a minimum punishment of five years. 

It has prompted ICC Anti-Corruption unit to start an investigation. 

An ICC spokesperson was quoted saying about the matter as, “The ICC is aware of a recent interview given by Umar Akmal. Whilst we not that there is no suggestion that any fix actually took place, the ICC is reliant on players to report any corrupt approaches in timely manner, We are taking Akmal’s comments very seriously. We have launched an investigation and wish to speak to Mr. Akmal as matter of urgency,”

Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) too, has acted upon the sudden development. The Anti-Corruption Unit of the board served a notice to Akmal and summoned him to appear before it on June 27. 

(Inputs from Geo TV)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 25 Jun, 2018

    Share Via