Umar Akmal is always on the news. But most of the time for the negative reasons. Just yesterday, in a Tv interview he has disclosed that he was being offered money during the 2015 world cup to”leave two balls alone”.
Umar Akmal,28, further made astonishing claims about the offers to miss games against India. And just hours later that interview, PCB served him a notice.
Pakistan cricket board (PCB) has asked him to meet the board’s anti-corruption unit on 27th June to explain his comments.
Akmal in the TV interview said, “I had got an offer during the World Cup to leave two balls alone and they were willing to pay me $200,000 for that.”
He further added, “It was our first match against India in the 2015 World Cup… in fact, every match I play against India, they offer me money to make some excuse and opt out of the game.
But I have told those people that I am very sincere about playing for Pakistan and to not talk to me on this topic ever again.”
The International Cricket Council(ICC) has come to the action as well and in an official statement has said, “The ICC is aware of a recent interview given by Umar Akmal.
Whilst we note that there is no suggestion that any ‘fix’ actually took place, the ICC is reliant on players to report any corrupt approaches in a timely manner.
This is critical to our efforts to gather information on potential ‘fixers’ and to disrupt and prevent their efforts to corrupt the game. As such we are taking Akmal’s comments very seriously.
The statement further added, “We have launched an investigation and wish to speak to Mr. Akmal as a matter of urgency.
Our Anti-Corruption Unit is committed to working to uphold integrity in cricket and would urge anyone with any information to contact us via [email protected].”
I must add here that Umar Akmal has a habit of creating unnecessary controversies and getting himself into trouble. Last year, just before the Champions Trophy, he was sent back home from England after failing two fitness tests.
And four months later he got involved in another controversy; picking up a three-match ban and a fine of Pakistani rupees 1 million for his public outburst against coach Mickey Arthur.
Just a few days back, Ahmad Shahzad tested positive for marijuana, and now Umar Akmal has outdone him by choosing a path of self-destruction.
It’s one point struggling for runs but if you wreck yourself by committing such foolish mistakes; one wonders whether they even deserve to play international cricket in future.