Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) request for a hearing in Dubai in the matter related to batsman Umar Akmal's ban has been rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Akmal had been banned by the PCB for three years for failing to report multiple corrupt approaches. After an appeal from the player, PCB's own independent adjudicator halved Akmal's suspension period to 18 months.
The board, however, wanting earlier punishment to be upheld for breaching their code of conduct, hoped for another hearing in the issue by CAS.
But in a report published by the PTI this Sunday (September 27), it was mentioned through a source near developments that "the CAS has turned down a request from the Board, which wanted the hearing to be held in Dubai to minimise expenditure."
As per the source, PCB has requested for the hearing to be conducted via a video link, to which CAS hasn't yet made any response.
"Umar Akmal's legal team does not want the proceedings to be held through a video link so most likely the CAS will also reject the PCB's fresh request," mentions the source in the report, as permission of both parties is required under CAS regulations to go ahead with an online hearing.
The report states, "the PCB and Akmal have already responded to the notice of exchange. The CAS is expected to announce a date for the hearing in the coming weeks."
"Earlier this month, the CAS asked the PCB and Akmal to submit written arguments within 20 days."
"The PCB had gone to the CAS with an appeal against the reduction of the three-year ban by its independent adjudicator. On the other hand, the tainted batman wants the ban to be revoked."
Akmal, 30, has played 16 Tests, 121 ODIs and 84 T20Is for Pakistan.
