The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has on Friday (June 5) announced that Umar Akmal’s appeal against his three-year ban will be heard by former Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Faqir Muhammad Khokhar as an independent adjudicator on June 11 (Thursday).
The controversial wicketkeeper-batsman was suspended from cricket for three-years on April 27 by the PCB’s Disciplinary Panel under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code for not reporting spot fix approaches made to him during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches.
Akmal had filed the appeal against the ban which was imposed after the panel found him guilty of breaching Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two separate incidents.
From fitness issues to behavioral incidents and now corruption charges, Akmal has been talked more about for these acts rather than his cricketing talent for the past several years. Well, now his plea against the ban, seeking a reduction in the duration of the sanction, will be heard next week.
The PCB said in a statement: “Notices for the hearing have been issued to Umar Akmal and PCB.”
Read Also: PCB awaiting clearance from Pakistan govt for training camp after COVID-19 hiatus
It further reads, “On 27 April, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel, Mr. Justice (retd) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan, had suspended Umar Akmal for three years after finding him guilty of breaching Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two separate incidents. The PCB will make no comment on the matter until Justice Khokhar has announced his decision.”
Noteworthy, the spot-fixing offers were made to Akmal at two separate parties held in Defence Housing Society Lahore, while the Disciplinary Panel Chairman Mr. Justice (retd) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan had observed that the batsman was non-cooperative and did not show any regret.
(With PTI Inputs)
