LAHORE – Pakistan’s batsman Umar Akmal has been allowed six month relieffrom an international court.
The Court of Arbitration for sports (CAS) has announced its decision on theAppeals filed by PCB and Umar Akmal against the Order of the IndependentAdjudicator.
Through a consolidated Order on both Appeals, the CAS has imposed on UmarAkmal a sanction of a 12-month ban and a fine of PKR4.25million on onecount of breaching Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code.
Umar Akmal, who was suspended on 20 February 2020, will now be eligible toreintegrate into competitive cricket subject to deposits of fine ofPKR4,250,000 and undergoing the program of rehabilitation under the PCBAnti-Corruption Code.
CAS has also refused the request of Umar Akmal seeking return of his twomobile phones, which are in PCB’s custody for some different investigationand held that under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code it has the power to do so.
On 27 April 2020, the Chairman Disciplinary Panel had found Umar Akmalguilty on two charges of separate breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCBAnti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents and handed a three-yearsuspension with the periods of ineligibility to run concurrently.
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Umar Akmal exercised his right of appeal and on 29 July 2020, theIndependent Adjudicator modified the sentence and reduced the ineligibilityperiod to 18 months.
Against this Order, PCB and Umar Akmal both approached CAS. PCB’s appealhad been filed focusing on a point of law in regard with cumulativeoperation of the sanctions for the two charges upheld by the IndependentAdjudicator whereas Umar Akmal had sought a finding that he was not guiltyfor both charges.
“The PCB once again urges and remind all participants to abide by theirduty and promptly report any approaches to the anti-corruption offices andhelp themselves as well as the anti-corruption unit effort to eliminate theanathema of fixing.”
