Pakistan cricket greats back Umar Akmal ban

• The 29-year-old was banned for breaching Article 2.4.4 of the (PCB)'s Anti-Corruption code.
• “I think his international career is all but over. He deserved the punishment,” says Zaheer Abbas.

Pakistan cricket legends Zaheer Abbas and Javed Miandad have backed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s decision to ban middle-order batsman Umar Akmal for the period of three years over corruption charges.

The 29-year-old was banned for breaching Article 2.4.4 of the (PCB)'s Anti-Corruption code. He had failed to disclose corrupt approaches made to him. He was suspended to take part in cricketing activities just hours before now postponed Pakistan Super League (PSL) season five.

Talking to Indian Express, Abbas, aka Asian Bradman, said that Akmal’s international career might came to an end.

“I think his international career is all but over. He deserved the punishment,” said Abbas. “He [Akmal] wasn’t a junior player. He was playing for Pakistan for a long time. He must have been told by the PCB about the ICC Anti-Corruption rules many times – what to do when a corrupt approach is made. But he was ignoring it. PCB got to know that somebody (a corruptor) was trying to get hold of Umar. Later on he confessed, but it was too late.”

“How can you say he is a great talent when he isn’t following the rules? If you aren’t following the rules, then you aren’t a great player,” he added.

Meanwhile, Miandad taking a jab at the controversial cricket requested upcoming cricketers to learn from Akmal’s mistakes.

“He was a very good cricketer but he got involved in unnecessary controversies. I had told him many times to change himself but he didn’t listen to anyone,” Miandad said in a video on YouTube. “Today, the result is in front of everyone, he got banned for three years.”

“I would like to request youngsters, please don’t put yourself into such things. It will ruin your careers for sure,” he added.