• Pakistan's Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket for three years for failing to report spot-fixing offers. AFP
    Pakistan's Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket for three years for failing to report spot-fixing offers. AFP
  • Umar Akmal batting for Quetta Gladiators during the Pakistan Super League game against Islamabad United in Dubai on February 17, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Umar Akmal batting for Quetta Gladiators during the Pakistan Super League game against Islamabad United in Dubai on February 17, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Pakistan’s Umar Akmal, left, celebrates scoring a century against Afghanistan in Fatullah on Thursday, February 27, 2014. AP
    Pakistan’s Umar Akmal, left, celebrates scoring a century against Afghanistan in Fatullah on Thursday, February 27, 2014. AP
  • Umar Akmal batting for Quetta Gladiators during the Pakistan Super League game against Islamabad United in Dubai on February 17, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Umar Akmal batting for Quetta Gladiators during the Pakistan Super League game against Islamabad United in Dubai on February 17, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Umar Akmal celebrating the wicket of Paul Collingwood in the first T20 cricket match against England in Dubai on February 29, 2010. Pawan Singh / The National
    Umar Akmal celebrating the wicket of Paul Collingwood in the first T20 cricket match against England in Dubai on February 29, 2010. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Umar Akmal batting for Quetta Gladiators during the Pakistan Super League game against Islamabad United in Dubai on February 17, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Umar Akmal batting for Quetta Gladiators during the Pakistan Super League game against Islamabad United in Dubai on February 17, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Pakistan's Umar Akmal celebrates the dismissal of England batsman Ravi Bopara in the second Twenty20 match in Abu Dhabi on February 27, 2012. Ravindranath K / The National
    Pakistan's Umar Akmal celebrates the dismissal of England batsman Ravi Bopara in the second Twenty20 match in Abu Dhabi on February 27, 2012. Ravindranath K / The National
  • Umar Akmal playing a shot in the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and England in Dubai on February 20, 2010. Pawan Singh / The National
    Umar Akmal playing a shot in the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and England in Dubai on February 20, 2010. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Pakistan's Umar Akmal out for a golden duck on his T20 comeback against Sri Lanka in Lahore on October 5, 2019. AFP
    Pakistan's Umar Akmal out for a golden duck on his T20 comeback against Sri Lanka in Lahore on October 5, 2019. AFP
  • Umar Akmal of Pakistan in action against England in the 3rd ODI in Dubai on February 18, 2012. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Umar Akmal of Pakistan in action against England in the 3rd ODI in Dubai on February 18, 2012. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • Pakistan's Umar Akmal celebrates against Sri Lanka during their Asia Cup final cricket match in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 8, 2014. AP
    Pakistan's Umar Akmal celebrates against Sri Lanka during their Asia Cup final cricket match in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 8, 2014. AP
  • Pakistan's Umar Akmal, on floor, and Saeed Ajmal (R) celebrate beating Sri Lanka in the fifth and final ODI in Abu Dhabi on November 23, 2011. Ravindranath K / The National
    Pakistan's Umar Akmal, on floor, and Saeed Ajmal (R) celebrate beating Sri Lanka in the fifth and final ODI in Abu Dhabi on November 23, 2011. Ravindranath K / The National
  • Umar Akmal celebrates scoring a half century for Pakistan against New Zealand in the second T20 match in Dubai on November 13, 2009. Pawan Singh / The National
    Umar Akmal celebrates scoring a half century for Pakistan against New Zealand in the second T20 match in Dubai on November 13, 2009. Pawan Singh / The National

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal banned for three years for failing to report spot-fixing offers


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Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket for three years for failing to report spot-fixing offers.

Umar, who turns 30 next month, pleaded guilty to not reporting the fixing offers which led to his provisional suspension on February 20 this year.

Umar's ban is effective from February 20, when he was provisionally suspended by the board under its anti-corruption code, which states a player must report being approached to fix games.

The decision was announced by a disciplinary committee after a brief hearing of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Former Pakistan player turned-commentator Ramiz Raja said that Umar deserved to be "behind bars" for what he has done.

"So Umar Akmal officially makes it to the list of idiots," he said on Twitter.

"What a waste of a talent. It’s high time that Pakistan moved towards passing a legislative law against match fixing."

Umar burst onto the scene with a century in his first Test in 2009, but his career has been marred by disciplinary problems, resulting in various bans and fines.

He was arrested in February 2014 after a scuffle with a traffic warden who stopped him for a signal violation.

Umar was also banned for three months after a spat with then Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur in 2017.

Last month he escaped punishment after making rude remarks to a fitness trainer in Lahore.

Umar last represented Pakistan in two Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka in Lahore last year, falling to first ball ducks on both occasions.

He has so far played 16 Tests, 121 one-day games and 84 Twenty20s for Pakistan.

Umar's case is the latest of many that has hit Pakistan cricket in the last 20 years, resulting in life bans and fines for several players.

The PSL was hit by a spot-fixing case in 2017 when openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were banned for five years.

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