Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal has been summoned by the Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he claimed that he was approached to fix matches.
As per Umar’s claim, he was approached to fix the games in to fix matches in the Hong Kong Super Sixes, Pakistan's series against South Africa in the UAE, and during the 2015 World Cup.
In an interview given to a Pakistani TV channel, Umar stated that he was first approached back in 2012 when he featured in the Hong Kong Super Series, under the captaincy of his brother Kamran Akmal.
“Our liaison officer made an approach during my second stint in the Hong Kong Super Series. He came to me at 3-4 AM in the morning and knocked at my door despite the Do Not Disturb tag on the door. He said 'we will transfer money to your account anywhere in the world. We will give you any amount you want. We will give you diamonds, gold. You have to underperform this tournament.' I got a bit hyper and asked him to leave,” said Umar.
In the absence of their team manager, Umar went to Kamran and informed him about the incident. The skipper then informed the chairman and chief selector about the incident.
He also revealed that following the approach, he wanted to quit from the tournament. However, his brother and Sohail Tanveer asked him not to do so.
In another incidence, Umar was approached during South Africa series in the UAE and the 2015 World Cup. He was offered a whopping sum of USD 200,000 to alter the game.
“I was approached before the 2015 World Cup match against India in Adelaide. Whenever I play against India I get approached. After the liaison officer episode, all of the approaches have been on phone and I have told the PCB about every single one of them,” said Umar.
According to PCB's Anti-Corruption code articles 2.4.4 and 2.4.5, a player has to disclose an approach to himself or any knowledge about misconduct to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department without any unnecessary delay.