ICC initiates corruption probe against Umar Akmal over 2015 World Cup fixing claims

Dubai: The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption unit on Tuesday launched an investigation against Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal after the out-of-favour wicketkeeper-batsman claimed that he had been offered money to skip games during the ICC 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Akmal revealed that he was offered $200,000 by bookies to let go of two deliveries during one of the matches. “I was once offered $200,000 for leaving two deliveries. I was also offered to skip matches against India,” he said in an interview to Samaa TV earlier in 2018.

"Similar offers have been made in the past as well. In the matches with India, I’ve been told to make some excuse and opt out of the game for which I’d be paid but I have told those people that I am committed to Pakistan and to not approach me ever with such offers," he added.

Akmal mentioned he was approached by the ICC during 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand. But there was no clarity over where the 28-year-old reported the incident to ICC’s anti-corruption unit.

As per ICC’s anti-corruption code 2.4.4 and 2.4.5, players are bound to report all the corrupt approaches made to them during an event and failure of doing so carry a minimum punishment of five years.

Umar, the younger brother of Kamran Akmal has found himself in trouble for many controversies in his playing career. Recently, he was accused of using abusive language along with provoking his teammates to throw balls at the opposition batsmen during a first-class game.