Umar Akmal allowed to resume club cricket activities

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been allowed to resume club cricket by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as part of his rehabilitation process that started last month. Akmal had apologised for not reporting corrupt approaches for which the Pakistan batsman received a 12-month ban.

"Umar Akmal has been allowed to resume club cricket activities as part of his rehabilitation process, which commenced last month. In the processes completed to date, Umar has shown remorse, attended an anti-corruption lecture and participated in a Q&A session conducted by the Security and Anti-Corruption Department," the PCB said in a media release.

"His rehabilitation program is expected to conclude next month, following which he will become eligible to participate in the Pakistan domestic cricket season 2021-22," it further added.

Akmal, who last played for Pakistan in 2019, paid a hefty fine of PKR 4.5 million to PCB in May this year, which had entitled him to join the Anti-Corruption rehabilitation program of the board.

Akmal, whose ban was reduced from three years to one, had initially not reported approaches in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as he had thought it would remain confidential. 

"I opted against reporting the matter to the PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit as I was concerned the information would be leaked out and not remain confidential," he said in February.