Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal wad banned from all formats of cricket for three years after pleading guilty to failing to report match fixing approaches, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced. “Umar Akmal handed three-year ban from all cricket by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel Mr Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan,” PCB tweeted.
Former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja welcomed the move and stated that cricketers who have been part of corruption should be penalized in the exact same manner. Akmal has featured in 16 Tests, 121 ODIs and 84 T20Is for the Pakistan team.
“So Umar Akmal officially makes it to the list of idiots! Banned for 3 years. What a waste of a talent! It’s high time that Pakistan moved towards passing a legislative law against match fixing. Behind bars is where such jack a***s belong! Otherwise brave for more!!” Ramiz Raja tweeted after Akmal’s suspension.
The former Pakistan skipper has called for rigorous punitive action on cricketers enmeshed in any form of dishonest dealings.
“You ask me I would say these tainted cricketers should open their grocery shops. I have no doubt that giving concession to big names also damaged Pakistan cricket,” Raja had said, alluding to Amir.
“There is once again talks of redrafting Sharjeel Khan into the team which is not right and can damage Pakistan cricket,” he further said.