KARACHI: Umar Akmal, known as Pakistan cricket’s ‘bad boy’, is in hot waters due to his alleged violation of the anti-corruption code of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The PCB charged him for concealing two separate incidents of interacting with bookies and receiving offers from them. However, a source claimed that Umar, during the hearing on April 27th, only confessed to getting the bookies’ offer just once.

“Regarding the second meeting, which the PCB had charged him of having, Umar Akmal was adamant that fixing or any other foul practice talk was not discussed at all,” the source said.

“According to Akmal, the second meeting was unplanned as he (Umar) was sitting with a friend outdoors when a random guy joined the session. The man only asked Umar about the PSL and his preparations and that was it,” the source, quoted Akmal as saying.

The source, however, said that in the first meeting which took place about a week before the above mentioned second meeting, Umar was offered to cooperate in fixing some PSL5 matches.

“Umar should have informed the relevant authorities about this approach. He unnecessarily delayed it and is now paying the price,” the source added.

To a question, regarding any appeal from Umar, the source that it would be decided after reviewing the detailed judgment and the actual length of suspension etc.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2020