Reacting to Umar's ban, former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja on Tuesday said that Umar Akmal has now officially made it to the list of idiots.
"So Umar Akmal officially makes it to the list of idiots! Banned for 3 years. What a waste of a talent!" Raja wrote in a tweet before adding, It’s high time that Pakistan moved towards passing a legislative law against match fixing. Behind bars is where such jack a***s belong! Otherwise brave for more!!"
Umar Akmal was charged with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents on 17 March.
Zimbabwe's cricketer-turned-commentator Pommie Mbangwa asked Ramiz in a reply if "jail time would win the war?"
Raja wrote: "Jail time could be a useful deterrent Pommie, possibly the last resort!! It's like fighting covid 19, all will have to pitch in to save the cricket world: Fans, Boards, stake holders,law enforcement agencies, You & I."
The decision to ban Umar Akmal for three years was announced by a disciplinary committee after a brief hearing of the PCB.
PCB Director – Anti-Corruption and Security, Lt Col Asif Mahmood, said: “The PCB doesn’t take any pleasure in seeing a promising international cricketer being declared ineligible for three years on corruption charges, but this is once again a timely reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anti-corruption code.
“The anti-corruption unit regularly holds educational seminars and refresher courses at all levels to remind all professional cricketers of their obligations and responsibilities. And even then if some cricketers decide to take the Code in their hands, then this is how things will pan out.
“I request all professional cricketers to stay away from the menace of corruption and immediately inform relevant authorities as soon as they are approached. This is in their as well as their teams’ and country’s best interest.”