There just seems to be no end to the troubles of Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal. After the incident at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) where he failed the fitness test, Umar was suspended from all cricketing activities including the Pakistan Super League (PSL) under the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Article 4.7.1 of the anti-corruption code. Now, the younger of the Akmal brothers has even been asked to return the payment he had received for the 5th season of the PSL.
As part of the norms in Pakistan’s franchise-based cricket league, every player is given 70% of his payment ahead of the start of the new season while the remaining 30% is paid after the conclusion of the season. Umar, who reportedly was sold to Quetta Gladiators ahead for USD 50,000 (Gold category) for the season 5 of the PSL, will now have to return the payment to PCB.
“He has now been asked to return the amount to the Pakistan Cricket Board as he stands suspended from the PSL and all other cricket activities until the inquiry is completed,” a source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Further narrating the process of payment disbursements, the source revealed that unlike some of the other leagues across the world, the PCB directly handles the players’ salaries in PSL in order to avoid any possible issue of delayed payments.
“The cheques are sent directly by the PCB which guarantees payment of all players on schedule and later they adjust amount from the franchises shares. The PCB handles the distribution of contract money to players directly to avoid any delays and problems as are visible in other leagues where players have got payments even after a year’s delay,” the source added.
As for the charges that Umar is facing, it has been alleged that the 29-year-old had met a bookie and was asked to do spot-fixing in one of the PSL matches. While the PCB is yet to send him a charge-sheet, the cricketer is said to have hired a top lawyer to defend his case, having denied all the charges levied at him.
