Umar Akmal

The narrative of Umar Akmal, a cricketer of Pakistan, is a tale steeped in potential and juxtaposed by controversy. Born into a lineage where cricket flows as fervently as blood, Akmal’s life has been a testament to the quintessential sports prodigy whose early promise has wrestled with the specters of inconsistency and misadventure. As the youngest scion of a family renowned for its cricketing prowess, his foray into international cricket was marked by bursts of brilliance that suggested a long and illustrious career ahead. This article seeks to unravel the enigma of Umar Akmal, tracing his ascent from the cricketing cradles of youth sport to the echelons of international cricket, his personal life’s intertwinement with his professional saga, and the vicissitudes that have thus far defined his public persona.

Umar Akmal Batting Career Stats

Career Information

Test debut vs New Zealand at University Oval, Nov 24, 2009

Last Test vs Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, Sep 01, 2011

ODI debut vs Sri Lanka at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Aug 01, 2009

Last ODI vs Australia at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Mar 31, 2019

T20 debut vs Sri Lanka at R.Premadasa Stadium, Aug 12, 2009

Last T20 vs Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium, Oct 07, 2019

Biography

Umar Akmal, a Pakistani cricketer, was a member of the Pakistan national cricket team from 2009 to 2019. The progression of his cricketing career was significantly impeded when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) imposed an 18-month suspension on him due to his failure to promptly report spot-fixing offers until August 2021.

Akmal made his debut in international cricket during a One Day International (ODI) match against Sri Lanka on August 1st, 2009, where he demonstrated his athletic abilities. Shortly thereafter, he made his debut in Twenty20 International cricket on August 12, 2009, against Sri Lanka. He also marked his Test debut against New Zealand on November 23, 2009. Umar, recognized for his proficiency as a right-handed batsman and intermittent spin bowler, has also carried out wicket-keeping responsibilities for the national team alongside his brothers Adnan and Kamran.

Umar had an extensive career as a player for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, lasting eleven years before moving to United Bank Limited in August 2017. In addition to his engagements in domestic cricket, he has participated in several international Twenty20 franchises.

In February 2020, Umar faced a setback in his professional career when the PCB imposed a suspension on him for contravening their Anti-Corruption code. Several months subsequent, he was issued a three-year prohibition from participation in any cricket-related activities subsequent to confessing to failure to disclose corrupt propositions. The individual contested the aforementioned ruling, resulting in a decrease of their suspension to a duration of eighteen months which took effect in February of 2020. Both Umar and the PCB, dissatisfied with the reduction, sought recourse from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an effort to challenge the decision. In February 2021, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the duration of the individual’s suspension to twelve months and mandated the payment of a penalty.

Following a professed regret for previous oversights in reporting corrupt interactions, Umar subsequently sought out opportunities in the realm of cricket overseas, ultimately securing a contractual agreement with the Northern California Cricket Association in the United States.

Career Way from Early to Ban for Corruption

The concept that diligence may override inherent ability in the absence of persistent effort is exemplified in the narrative of Umar Akmal’s career in cricket. Ever since his debut in the international cricket arena at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup of 2008, Akmal has garnered widespread acknowledgement as a promising cricketer. However, a consistent pattern of varying performances and unprofessional behavior in extracurricular activities has led to reluctance within the cricketing establishment to provide him with a secure position within the team.

Umar Akmal, hailing from a family with a distinguished cricketing heritage, is the third sibling of the Akmal family to have made an impact on the international cricketing stage. Like his elder brothers Kamran and Adnan, Umar has taken on the role of wicketkeeper on a part-time basis. In his inaugural performance, he distinguished himself by achieving a notable century against New Zealand, and subsequently attained an impressive one-day international ton in his third match. This elicited commendation for his enterprising and forceful approach to batting. Nevertheless, his professional advancement has been hindered by inconsistent performances and breaches of discipline.

Throughout his professional journey, he has encountered a series of contentious occurrences that have sparked public debate and discussion.

During the 2009-10 season tour of Australia, Akmal was implicated in an alleged feigned injury incident, purportedly in response to his brother Kamran’s omission from the team. The aforementioned actions resulted in disciplinary measures from the Pakistan Cricket Board, including the imposition of a financial penalty for his unauthorized interaction with the media about the matter.

In the year 2014, Akmal became entangled in legal issues after a dispute with a traffic enforcement officer, leading to accusations of physical altercation and property destruction, ultimately resulting in a short period of imprisonment.

During a national one-day competition, an altercation with fellow cricketer Junaid Khan resulted in disciplinary measures in the form of fines, and subsequent monitoring by the governing body for both involved parties.

The grounds for Akmal’s omission from the 2017 West Indies tour and subsequent recall from England stemmed from fitness-related issues, as he had failed to meet prescribed fitness standards set forth by cricketing authorities in consecutive evaluations.

Notwithstanding these obstacles, Akmal’s inherent talent and notable performance, exemplified by his impressive 94-run contribution against Australia in the T20 World Cup of 2014, continue to impact the selectors’ deliberations concerning his potential inclusion. The issue of whether Akmal will be able to leverage forthcoming opportunities and actualize his potential continues to be a topic of speculation within the cricketing domain.

Ban for Corruption

On the 20th of February in the year 2020, Umar Akmal was subjected to a provisional suspension by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) under the stipulations of Article 4.7.1 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code. This action rendered Akmal ineligible for participation in any cricket-related activities under the jurisdiction of the board whilst an inquiry by the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit was underway. Consequently, Akmal was precluded from competing in the Pakistan Super League for that season.

Subsequently, on the 20th of March, the PCB formally indicted Akmal on two counts of violations against its Anti-Corruption Code, specifically under Article 2.4.4, which addresses the non-disclosure of solicitations to partake in corrupt practices. Akmal waived the option of a tribunal hearing, thereby directing the case to the disciplinary committee, presided over by Retired Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan.

During the disciplinary proceedings on the 27th of April, Akmal was unrepresented by legal counsel and refrained from entering a plea of guilt. He acknowledged that he had been approached by two individuals on separate occasions yet attempted to rationalize his failure to report these incidents to the PCB. At the conclusion of this hearing, the PCB imposed a ban on Akmal from all forms of representative cricket for a duration of three years, effective until the 19th of February, 2023. It was speculated that the severity of the ban, exceeding the penalty given to compatriot Mohammad Irfan for a comparable transgression, was attributed to an apparent absence of contrition from Akmal.

In the ensuing month, Akmal filed an appeal against his suspension. In July of the same year, his ban was mitigated to eighteen months, with the term of the suspension designated from February 2020 to August 2021. The PCB, unsatisfied with this reduction, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as did Akmal in an attempt to annul his ban entirely. The CAS, on the 26th of February, further lessened Akmal’s suspension to twelve months and mandated his participation in a rehabilitation program in accordance with the PCB’s anti-corruption guidelines, in addition to levying a financial penalty of PKR 4.25 million (approximately 27,000 USD). This decision enabled Akmal to resume his cricketing activities, subject to the completion of the prescribed rehabilitation.

Umar Akmal’s Wife, Daughter - Family Tie

Umar Akmal emerges from an extensive cricketing pedigree, the progeny of Mohammad Akmal Siddique, who is characterized as a distinguished administrator within the Pakistani cricketing framework. As the youngest of eight offspring, he is part of a lineage that boasts an extensive engagement with cricket—seven of his male siblings have at one time wielded the bat and ball before diverging into the realm of commerce, complemented by a sister. This familial association with cricket extends to his kinship with Babar Azam, a distinguished batsman in Pakistan’s cricket panorama, with whom he shares a cousinly bond.

In the personal domain, Akmal formalized his matrimonial alliance with Noor Amna, the progeny of Abdul Qadir, a figure celebrated for his leg-spin in Pakistan’s cricket annals, in the year 2014. This marital bond has flourished, yielding three progenies. Amidst a career punctuated by professional tribulations, Akmal has abstained from officially terminating his tenure in any capacity within the Pakistan International Cricket Team, notwithstanding his current non-participation attributable to sundry complications.

In the annals of his early cricketing exploits, Akmal was lauded as a burgeoning talent, particularly noted during his tenure in Under-19 cricket. He stood among peers such as Virat Kohli and Sarfraz Ahmed, who have since ascended to the zenith of cricketing acclaim. Despite the auspicious inception of his career and the subsequent expectations thereof, Akmal’s trajectory has been characterized by fluctuations, as he has grappled with the challenge of emulating the consistent ascendancy of his contemporaries in the sport’s echelons.

Conclusion

Umar Akmal’s journey through the realms of cricket is emblematic of a paradoxical odyssey. It is a narrative rife with the innate brilliance of a sportsman whose career has been intermittently overshadowed by his own choices and external predicaments. As we delve into the layers that constitute his professional and personal life, we observe a microcosm of sports culture where talent is both a gift and a crucible. Akmal’s story is not just about the runs scored or matches played; it is intrinsically about human potential, fallibility, and the relentless pursuit of redemption within the arena of competitive sport. His tale, unfinished and ripe with possibility, continues to evolve, leaving followers of cricket and students of human nature alike watching with bated breath, anticipating the next chapter in the life of a cricketer who has, for better or worse, left an indelible mark on the canvas of Pakistan’s cricketing heritage.