LAHORE: The three years ban imposed on cricketer Umar Akmal in a disciplinary case has been reduced to 18 months by independent adjudicator of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in an appeal filed by the middle order batsman.

The Adjudicator former Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar conducted the hearing at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore and announced the decision on Wednesday.

Umar Akmal had moved an appeal against a three-year ban imposed on him by a PCB disciplinary committee in April this year in a case for failing to report to the PCB two incidents of contacts made by suspicious persons before the start of the Pakistan Super League on February 20.

It may be noted that it was a mandatory requirement under Code of Conducts of the PCB Anti-corruption unit. Umar breached Article 2.4.4. of the said code for the two incidents. Umar Akmal counsel told media that punishment to the cricketer can further be reduced.

After the decision, Umar said that he would try to get the ban reduced. "I would consult my lawyers and family for next step."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020