Lahore: Pakistan team player Kamran Akmal expressed a resolve to fight alegal battle to revise down the punishment awarded to his brother UmarAkmal in a corruption case.
Kamran said that an appeal will be filed against three-year ban imposed byChairman of the Independent Disciplinary Panel, Justice (retired)Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan.
“I had hoped that minimum punishment will be awarded,” he said, adding thathis brother had made mistake by not informing the PCB timely and he shouldbe punished for it but the penalty should not be such strict.
No corruption charge has proved against Umar Akmal, he stressed. Thebatsman and wicketkeeper of the national team expressed sadness over theremarks made by former cricketer Rameez Raja.
The senior player should avoid commenting about the matter unless he hascomplete information about it, Kamran said.
Detailed Judgement
Chairman of the Independent Disciplinary Panel, Mr Justice (retired)Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan on Thursday submitted his detailed judgement on theUmar Akmal case to the Pakistan Cricket Board.
According to details, Justice Chauhan has imposed a ban of three years foreach of the two charges of violating the PCB Anti-Corruption Code, whichwill be deemed to have come into effect from the date of Umar Akmal’ssuspension i.e. 20 February 2020. Both periods of ineligibility will runconcurrently, meaning Umar Akmal will now become eligible to return tocricket activities on 19 February 2023.
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Umar Akmal was charged with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCBAnti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents on 17 March. On 9 April,the PCB referred the matter to the Chairman of the Independent DisciplinaryCommittee after the batsman opted not to request for a hearing before theAnti-Corruption Tribunal.
Justice Chauhan in his remarks said: “It appears that he (Umar Akmal) isnot prepared to show remorse and seek apology, make admission that hefailed to fulfill his responsibility under Anti-Corruption Code, Article2.4.4, rather he tried to take refuge under the pretext that in the pastwhenever any such approaches were made, the matter was reported by him.
“As far as Charge No.1 is concerned, I do not see any circumstances tomitigate the nature of offence, particularly, when the participant (UmarAkmal) has not cooperated with the PCB Vigilance and Security Departmentand the investigating team.
“In view of the admission of the participant (Umar Akmal) that he failed todisclose to PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, the details ofthe approaches and invitations extended to him without unnecessary delay.The charge as framed is proved and the participant (Umar Akmal) hasrendered himself liable to be punished for breach of Article 2.4.4.
“Charge No.2, breach of Article 2.4.4 of the Code by failing to disclose tothe PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department of the PCB, full detailsof the approaches and invitations received by you (Umar Akmal) to engage incorrupt conduct under the Code in respect of matches in PSL 2020.
“It is also admitted by him (Umar Akmal) that he failed to report theapproaches and invitation to the PCB Vigilance and Anti-CorruptionDepartment, as required by the PCB Code, Article 2.4.4. In view of theabove charge as framed, stood proven and participant has rendered himselfto be punished under Article 6.2 of the PCB Code.”
