PCB rejects Umar Akmal’s appeal of paying fine in installments

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected cricketer Umar Akmal’s appeal of paying his fine in installments, ARY News has reported.

The 30-year-old cricketer is bound to pay a fine of PKR4.25million, imposed on him by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on February 26. Umar told PCB that due to financial difficulties he can not pay the lump sum amount.

The board, after reviewing his appeal and the evidence provided by him, rejected the application. The right-handed batsman will only be able to participate in the rehabilitation program under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code after he pays off the lump sum fine of PKR4.25million.

Earlier, CAS reduced Umar’s 18-month ban to 12 months. Akmal was suspended from all forms of the game after PCB found him involved in suspicious activities before PSL 5.

In an investigation, PCB found him guilty and imposed a three-year ban on him. After the cricketer appealed against PCB’s decision, ex-Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, in his capacity as an independent adjudicator, heard his appeal and reduced Akmal’s ban to 1.5 years from 3 years.

Akmal was unable to pay the fine imposed on him and appealed in CAS further. In reply, PCB also consulted with CAS for an increase in Akmal’s ban.