|| CF DESK ||

In a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday, batsman Umar Akmal apologized for failing to report a fixing attempt.

The 31-year-old, who was given a 12-month suspension as a punishment, urged cricketers to disclose suspicious actions as soon as possible in order to keep their careers and records clean.

“My name is Umar Akmal. 17 months ago in 2020, I made a mistake that caused damage to both my career and cricket. The mistake happened when some individuals approached me and I could not report it to the anti-corruption unit on time. I had to face a 12-month ban because of this incident. As a cricketer, I could not play cricket. This time was really tough for me. I learned a lot during this time,” Akmal said. 

“I admit in front of everyone today that this incident caused damage to Pakistan’s image. I apologise to my family, the PCB and cricket fans all around the world. I, Umar Akmal, would like to request all of you, as ambassadors of the sport, to stay away from any suspicious activities. If any suspicious individuals approach you, please report it to the anti-corruption unit in a timely manner so that your record and career remain clean,” he concluded.

The Chairman Disciplinary Panel found Umar Akmal guilty on two counts of different breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated instances on April 27, 2020, and sentenced him to a three-year suspension with concurrent periods of ineligibility.