Umar Akmal has been suspended with immediate effect by the Pakistan Cricket Board under the governing body’s anti-corruption code. While PCB has not divulged details pertaining to Umar’s latest transgression, their decision has put paid to the 29-year-old’s plans of participating in the forthcoming season of the Pakistan Super League which begins on February 20. Umar’s franchise, Quetta Gladiators, will be allowed to sign a replacement.
While a board-appointed or independent tribunal will determine if Umar is indeed guilty of wrongdoing, the invoking of Article 4.7.1 of the anti-corruption code is a potential indicator of the graveness of the offense. As per the said code of the PCB constitution, the board “shall have the discretion, in circumstances where it considers that the integrity of the sport could otherwise be seriously undermined, to Provisionally Suspend the Participant pending the Anti-Corruption Tribunals determination of whether he/she has committed an offense.
The suspension is the latest in Umar Akmal’s storied dalliance with controversy. Most recently, he was reprimanded and let-off by the board after he allegedly fully exposed himself to a trainer after failing a skin-fold test and asked: “Where is the fat?”
Umar Akmal’s timeline of trouble
Feb 2020 – Reprimanded for inappropriate behavior at fitness Test
Apr 2019 – Fined for breaking team curfew in Dubai during series versus Australia
Jun 2018 – Served notice to explain his comments on a television show about spot-fixing requests
Sep 2017 – Banned for his outburst on former coach Mickey Arthur, his NOCs to play foreign leagues revoked
May 2017 – Recalled from England ahead of the Champions Trophy for failing fitness Test
May 2016 – Left out of the England tour along with Ahmed Shehzad on disciplinary grounds
Jan 2016 – Banned for a T20I against New Zealand for misconduct
Nov 2015 – Left out of England T20Is for “bringing PCB into disrepute” after reportedly attending a party without permission
Feb 2014 – Charged by Lahore police for allegedly misbehaving with warden after committing a traffic violation
Oct 2012 – Fined for ignoring umpires while going for a change of gloves in a T20 against Sri Lanka
Jun 2011 – Issued show-cause notice for giving unauthorized interviews to television media
