LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has referred Umar Akmal’s case to Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel, headed by Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan - the former Lahore High Court Judge - after middle-order batsman Umar Akmal did not request for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal in a corrupt practice incident which took place on the eve of the Pakistan Super League V.

The PCB made the decision to refer the case after examining the contents of Umar Akmal’s reply in which no written request for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal had been made for the purposes of contesting liability or level of sanction or both as per Article 4.6.6 of the PCB anti-corruption code.

In accordance with the Article 4.8.1 of the Code, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel shall now issue a public decision confirming the offences under the Code specified in the Notice of Charge and imposing applicable sanctions.

It has been decided that until the time that a decision is announced by Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel, the PCB will not comment on the matter.

Umar was sidelined from representing Quetta Gladiators in the last PSL edition under a corrupt practice charge just a day before the start of the league in Karachi.

The stoutly built player may face suspension from six months to life under this case. Though Umar opted not to contest the charges imposed on him under the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code, it tantamounts to confession and he has now put himself at the mercy of the disciplinary panel.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2020