PCB suspends Umar Akmal from all cricket activities; Quetta Gladiators replace with Anwar Ali
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday suspended Umar Akmal with immediate effect. This means Akmal cannot take part in any cricket-related activity until the PCB Anti-corruption Unit (ACU) is investigating him.
Akmal is being investigated under Article 4.7.1 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code.
The article in question suggests that before a participant is either charged by the ACU or "there are other exceptional circumstances relevant to a participant [...] it shall have the discretion to provisionally suspend the participant pending the Anti-corruption Tribunal‟s determination of whether he/she has committed an offence."
"As this is an ongoing investigation, the PCB will not make any further comments," a press release announcing the board's decision said.
Akmal's recent misconduct
Akmal was also investigated by the PCB earlier this month for alleged misconduct. According to a report published by ESPNCricinfo, earlier this month, Akmal had exposed himself to a trainer during his fitness test out of frustration and asked him, "Where is the fat?". The player's brother, cricketer Kamran Akmal said that Umar had done it out of mischief.
The PCB, in a statement given to ESPNCricinfo said it was "fully aware of the matter and was looking into punishments in the context of bringing the game into disrepute".
The cricket board in its inquiry heard all parties concerned and concluded that the incident happened due to a "misunderstanding", a press release later issued by the board had said.
Anwar Ali replaces Akmal in the Gladiators' squad
Quetta Gladiators have replaced Akmal with Anwar Ali in the line-up for the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 following the event’s technical committee’s approval.
The press release announcing Akmal's suspension had said that Quetta Gladiators are "allowed to apply for Umar Akmal’s replacement in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020."
The technical committee is chaired by PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan and it includes Bazid Khan, Marina Iqbal, Sameer Khosa and Dr Sohail Saleem.
32-year-old Ali comes in as a silver category player and has been part of the Quetta Gladiators squad in all previous editions. Ali has scored a total of 191 runs and taken 23 wickets in the 32 matches he has played in the league so far.
The Gladiators — who won the title last year — are ready to face off against two-time winners Islamabad United today in the first match of this year's instalment on HBL PSL.
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Comments (64) Closed
Feb 20, 2020 10:56am
PCB is late in this regard , this action with strict discipline was required to taken eight years ago approx in Australia when he was refused to play in the support of his brother
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Feb 20, 2020 10:59am
Finally he got what he deserved...
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Feb 20, 2020 11:04am
Pls complete this inquiry after arrival of Nawaz Sharif.
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Feb 20, 2020 11:13am
Cheaters, always
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Feb 20, 2020 11:41am
unfair to Umar. Whenever he is ready to roar & perform, his opponents always plan some conspiracy against him.
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Feb 20, 2020 11:43am
PCB is the 7th PSL team but playing outside ground. Suspending an Ace player of champions, night before start of championship is an orthodox stroke.
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Feb 20, 2020 12:00pm
This all seems to be a plot against Quetta Galdiators. Why was Umar Akmar allowed to be part of the drafting process, the above could have been done at that time as well. Quetta though low profile but is a strong team, and it seems that PBC would not be able to handle the pressure of Sarfaraz to be called back to the national squad if Quetta shines for one more time under his leadership.
Recall a recommendation from the PCB medical panel a couple of days ago, recommending Nasim Shah to be rested for the first two matches.
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Feb 20, 2020 12:01pm
a talented player wasted in controversies...
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Feb 20, 2020 12:12pm
This guy just can't stay out of spot light, and that too for all wrong reasons. A classic example of how to ruin your entire potential by not learning and refusing to grow up.
P.s I will now supposed QG !
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Feb 20, 2020 12:16pm
Overhyped
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Feb 20, 2020 12:28pm
Umar' story is never ending and he cannot be disciplined...Right but belated action by PCB
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Feb 20, 2020 12:46pm
@Khurram Abrar, Nawaz is not coming back...Rest assured..
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Feb 20, 2020 12:47pm
@Good Guy, he ask for it...
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Feb 20, 2020 12:48pm
@ Hussain Moosvie!
You pointed out very well!
That incident was a clear indication of what was going to come. I wished PCB had banned him forever at that time.
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Feb 20, 2020 12:48pm
Please het rid off such characters who continue with their habits off disturbing the setup.
Enough is enough, this guy is giving PCB and Pakistan cricket as whole a bad name.
A controversial figure is always controversial.
Many more chances can one get.
I wonder why many times he has given his wicket away when well set to finish of the match.
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Feb 20, 2020 12:48pm
Congrats shahid afridi for becoming father of the fifth child in this very younger age.
We are waiting to see your sixer.
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Feb 20, 2020 12:49pm
Once rated equal to kohli., Now no where?
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Feb 20, 2020 12:52pm
As you sow, so shall you reap.
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Feb 20, 2020 12:56pm
Everytime PSL kicks off, we get know to these news ? Cant understand PCB wants to uplift cricket in Pakistan or they trying to malign the cricket ?
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Feb 20, 2020 01:08pm
@Good Guy, questionable attitude, disrespectful, uneducated, not a team man.....Not much going for him......we don’t need people like this in sports or national team...where discipline and loyalty is everything!
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Feb 20, 2020 01:18pm
@Sameer Khan, Honestly. He always have been in the news for the wrong reasons. He should have been penalised long time ago and should have been made into an example. I am sure Misbah would come out all in his support and vocal against PCB decision.
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Feb 20, 2020 01:22pm
Cricket lovers waited for years and years but his much publicised talent & potential never came to limelight. It is a blessing (not in disguise) for Quetta Gladiators.
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Feb 20, 2020 01:30pm
I don't understand why some people do anything for money and even ruine their bright future. Umar Akmal is no exception and wasted his career because of his big headed attitude, arrogance and now paying the price.
(Note: I regularly advocate my impartial views against injustice, inequality, oppression and nepotism without supporting any of the political parties. My family, country and people's well-being are far more important to me than anything else - be aware of fake ID's!).
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Feb 20, 2020 01:33pm
Is there any field which has only honest people in Pakistan, not that I know of.
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Feb 20, 2020 01:41pm
Whats he done now.
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Feb 20, 2020 01:44pm
I smell a conspiracy here by competing teams to destroy Umar's team. Request PMIK to intervene and resolve this immediately.
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Feb 20, 2020 01:50pm
He himself is to blame for this. Such a talented player, but he destroyed his own career.
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Feb 20, 2020 01:58pm
Should be made example for all cricketers ..., they don’t have any ethics .,,, all players should be made learnt so ....!!!!
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Feb 20, 2020 02:10pm
His brother must be investigated as well.
When people wonder y he did not capitalise on his talent, this is the answer.
If zulqurnain was taken seriously at that time these fixers would have been behind the bars long time ago.
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Feb 20, 2020 02:16pm
By the way what is PBC ?
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Feb 20, 2020 02:50pm
I find it funny that he escaped the "News of the World" expose. He was seen in the footage together with Wahab Riaz. He got lucky then but never learnt a lesson (has been nearly 10 years now). One of the reasons we have never been an excellent team is the reluctance of our board to really take actions and clean the malaise.
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Feb 20, 2020 03:08pm
This poor chap is the problem child of PCB. Mr.Imran Khan should arrange someone to school him otherwise Pakistan is going to lose a good cricketer.
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Feb 20, 2020 03:10pm
Cheater wants to mint money, there may be more like him hiding.PSL another window of corruption in this country.
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Feb 20, 2020 03:12pm
Board must have solid reasons otherwise it would be very unjust.
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Feb 20, 2020 03:53pm
@Hussain Moosvie, I fully agree
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Feb 20, 2020 04:03pm
This better be real. I think Umar and Ahmed Shehzad were two players that were not managed or coached properly. PCB has been poor in managing and grooming of players such as Shaoib Akhtar long before Umar and Ahmed. It seems they just don't know how to deal with behaviour issues. Ahmed was flamboyant, until they pushed in a few other favourite players to open with him. He was doing fine at one point. But then came his Selfie Boy tag and infamous quote to a Srilankan player, both which were hyped up. He is a boy of terrific talent and a brilliant fielder, and so is Umar. What a shame that we have wasted them
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Feb 20, 2020 04:20pm
@Good Guy, talented player or parchi player?
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Feb 20, 2020 04:20pm
That simply unfair. Let him play and enjoy his life. People only live once. Give him another chance. You can carry on with the enquire without suspending him. Innocent until proven guilty.
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Feb 20, 2020 04:58pm
Players who represent their countries should first be good human beings. The Akmals lack those qualities.
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Feb 20, 2020 05:22pm
JagoPakistan
about an hour ago
That simply unfair. Let him play and enjoy his life. People only live once. Give him another chance. You can carry on with the enquire without suspending him. Innocent until proven guilty.
Go read the article - 4.7.1. PCB following the rules. He's had behavior issues before, so well done PCB.
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Feb 20, 2020 06:06pm
As you sow, so shall you reap.
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Feb 20, 2020 06:15pm
Hubris has no limits in this B grade cricketer whose performance is defined by consistent display of the old axiom of the game " cricket by chance".
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Feb 20, 2020 06:16pm
There’s no end of corruption. Whatever be the field.
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Feb 20, 2020 06:48pm
This is Infact a conspiracy to rid quetta gladiators from their main player in middle order. They knew that Omer is the match winning player in Pakistan. Also they don't want that Sarfraz Ahmad can highlight his performance again.
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Feb 20, 2020 07:07pm
@Strategist, How can you manage repeat offenders. You can't say they haven't had opportunities to redeem themselves. At the end of the day they are grown adults (at least age wise).
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Feb 20, 2020 07:07pm
He is what he is and cannot change. It is the PCB who should have acted a long time ago and thrown him out of the national team.
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Feb 20, 2020 07:15pm
@Strategist, Earlier in their careers, the talents of Umar Akmal and Kohli were comparable. About 10 years later look at the difference. I think for a professional sportsperson self discipline, determination and good conduct is imperative. And in team sports its important to be a team player.
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Feb 20, 2020 07:17pm
If he put his mind to it, in an alternative reality Umar could have been Pakistan cricket teams captain.
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Feb 20, 2020 07:24pm
Good decision...indiscipline of any form should never be tolerated....
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Feb 20, 2020 07:27pm
Umar Akmal is the ultimate bad boy of Pakistani cricket and thoroughly incorrigible. He must be shown the permanent way out. Nobody in this world is indispensable.
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Feb 20, 2020 08:48pm
@Good Guy, are you serious ?
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Feb 20, 2020 10:54pm
Players who have serious problems upstairs should never be allowed to play for Pakistan's national team or even 1st class cricket. Does not matter how talented they are.
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Feb 20, 2020 11:01pm
@Jigar, but if a player is inherently uncoachable and cant help himself from behaving erratically, is there any chance of him "putting his mind to anything reasonable?"
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Feb 21, 2020 01:15am
@Jimmy, I don't think you got the jist of what I said. I didn't mention chances. I am talking about behavioural issues. In our society there is so much ignorance about it.
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Feb 21, 2020 02:02am
He may not be an angel, but someone doesn't like this guy. In fact, they are all at it!
cricket is in danger of being destroyed by corruption at all levels. Pakistan hockey, squash are examples...
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Feb 21, 2020 03:05am
Umar Akmal is uneducated player who got fame and fortune which resulted in him getting arrogant. He thinks of himself as bigger than the game and everybody. Ban him for a good couple of years and let him learn his lesson. Also PCB should have minimum education requirements for players.
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Feb 21, 2020 04:01am
The Akmal brothers have destroyed their own careers by poor behavior....
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Feb 21, 2020 04:43am
He has paid such a big price for his stupidities but he doesn't learn anything and probably will never do. Strange that not even his family could rein in him.
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Feb 21, 2020 11:49am
Seriously...??? typing mistake, well its not that but poor English which he has shown in many press conference, what will you say about that.
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Feb 21, 2020 03:32pm
cricket is money making game in this part of world, where money plays on high pitch, all sports activity revolves around money and players as well. when equation of sharing goes unbalanced sports body says match fixing, true or fact is all happenings in cricket is fixed, no game only Money, fools are are Audience as ALWAYS.
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Feb 21, 2020 07:51pm
@Sameer Khan, Roar? He didnt even mew in the series against Sri Lanka..you probably heard Babar Azam...That is the Pakistani player with a roar!!
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Feb 21, 2020 08:03pm
To stop the chain....pull the train...
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Feb 21, 2020 11:43pm
@Sameer Khan: Umar's opponents are Indian? That's sad!
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Feb 22, 2020 12:01am
@CHELFLS, PLEASE actually congratulate Mrs Pakistan for her great achievement and life long burden and pleasure of her children's well being and success in Cricket!
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