ISLAMABAD – Umar Akmal has reportedly pleaded guilty of meeting a bookieahead of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Umar waspart of the Quetta Gladiators squad until Thursday morning when he wassuspended under the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) anti-corruption code.
On the same day, he appeared before PCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) inorder to explain the matter. Initially refusing any wrongdoing, Akmalconfessed to having been approached for a fixing offer after seeing theevidence against him.
Reportedly, he was shown his pictures with the alleged bookie, some callrecordings and voice notes as well.——————————
As per a noted sports journalist, the cricket board’s anti-corruption bodyhad Umar and some other players under its watch for quite a long time.
As the tournament approached, the board intercepted a thread ofconversations between Umar and the alleged bookie for four days, beforetaking up the matter to Chairman PCB, Ehsan Mani.
Some journalists have also quoted the offered amount, stating that UmarAkmal was offered Rs. 50 million ahead of the first PSL match.
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With his consent, the 29-year-old batsman was suspended from allcricket-related activities.
As per reports, the head coach of Quetta Gladiators, Moin Khan, and theowner of the Quetta team, Nadeem Omar, were also taken into confidencebefore the announcement.
It is pertinent to mention here that every national cricketer, under PCBand ICC’s anti-corruption code, is bound to report to the relevantauthorities in case of any fixing approach. Something which Umar Akmalavoided for four consecutive days.
