Kamran Akmal strongly reacts over the punishment of brother Umar Akmal over corruption case
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Lahore: Pakistan team player Kamran Akmal expressed a resolve to fight a legal battle to revise down the punishment awarded to his brother Umar Akmal in a corruption case.
Kamran said that an appeal will be filed against three-year ban imposed by Chairman of the Independent Disciplinary Panel, Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan.
“I had hoped that minimum punishment will be awarded,” he said, adding that his brother had made mistake by not informing the PCB timely and he should be punished for it but the penalty should not be such strict.
No corruption charge has proved against Umar Akmal, he stressed. The batsman and wicketkeeper of the national team expressed sadness over the remarks made by former cricketer Rameez Raja.
The senior player should avoid commenting about the matter unless he has complete 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 the Umar Akmal case to the Pakistan Cricket Board.
According to details, Justice Chauhan has imposed a ban of three years for each of the two charges of violating the PCB Anti-Corruption Code, which will be deemed to have come into effect from the date of Umar Akmal’s suspension i.e. 20 February 2020. Both periods of ineligibility will run concurrently, meaning Umar Akmal will now become eligible to return to cricket activities on 19 February 2023.
Umar Akmal was charged with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents on 17 March. On 9 April, the PCB referred the matter to the Chairman of the Independent Disciplinary Committee after the batsman opted not to request for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal.
Justice Chauhan in his remarks said: “It appears that he (Umar Akmal) is not prepared to show remorse and seek apology, make admission that he failed to fulfill his responsibility under Anti-Corruption Code, Article 2.4.4, rather he tried to take refuge under the pretext that in the past whenever 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 to mitigate the nature of offence, particularly, when the participant (Umar Akmal) has not cooperated with the PCB Vigilance and Security Department and the investigating team.
“In view of the admission of the participant (Umar Akmal) that he failed to disclose to PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, the details of the approaches and invitations extended to him without unnecessary delay. The charge as framed is proved and the participant (Umar Akmal) has rendered 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 to the PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department of the PCB, full details of the approaches and invitations received by you (Umar Akmal) to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code in respect of matches in PSL 2020.
“It is also admitted by him (Umar Akmal) that he failed to report the approaches and invitation to the PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, as required by the PCB Code, Article 2.4.4. In view of the above charge as framed, stood proven and participant has rendered himself to be punished under Article 6.2 of the PCB Code.”
