Umar Akmal

In February 2020, he was suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), after he had breached their Anti-Corruption code. In April 2020, the PCB banned him from cricket for three years, after he pled guilty to failing to report corrupt approaches. The following month, he lodged an appeal against his ban.

Umar was originally part of the Quetta Gladiators squad for the 2020 season, but was removed a day before the tournament after he was suspended by PCB with immediate effect under Article 4.7.1 of its anti-corruption code, disallowing him from taking part in any cricket-related activity under the board's purview, "pending the investigation being carried out by PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit". He was replaced by Anwar Ali.

On 20 February 2020, Umar Akmal was provisionally suspended by PCB with immediate effect under Article 4.7.1 of its anti-corruption code, disallowing him from taking part in any cricket-related activity under the board's purview, "pending the investigation being carried out by PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit". This prevented Umar Akmal from playing in that season's Pakistan Super League. On 20 March, the PCB formally charged Akmal with two breaches of its anti-corruption code for two unrelated incidents. The charges were laid under article 2.4.4 of PCB's anti-corruption code which deals with "Failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code". Akmal decided not to contest the charge, forgoing his right to a hearing in front of the PCB's Anti-corruption Tribunal, and instead his case went directly to the disciplinary committee, chaired by Retired Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan. At the disciplinary hearing held on 27 April, Akmal appeared without a lawyer and did not plead guilty. Akmal admitted to being approached by two different men on separate occasions but tried to justify why he did not report these approaches to the PCB. At the end of the hearing, the PCB banned Akmal from all representative cricket for 3 years, with the ban to last until 19 February 2023. It was thought that his 3 year ban, which was longer than his fellow countryman Mohammad Irfan (12 month ban with 6 months suspended) for a similar offense, was due to a lack of remorse on Akmal's part. The following month, he lodged an appeal against his ban.

On 2 February 2020, it was reported that Umar Akmal exposed himself to a staff member of the NCA while undergoing a fitness test. While undergoing a skin-fold test to measure body fat, Akmal undressed completely in front of the staff member and asked, "Where is the fat?" In response to this incident, the PCB initiated an inquiry that lasted two days. At the end of the inquiry, the PCB decided against handing any punishment, and instead "reminded him of his responsibilities as a senior cricketer".

In September 2019, he was named in Central Punjab's squad for the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament. Central Punjab won the tournament and Akmal was named man of the match in the final.

In March 2019, Umar Akmal was recalled to the ODI squad for their series against Australia in the UAE. He scored 150 runs across 5 innings at an average of 30 and failed to cross 50 in the entire series. In addition, he was fined 20% of his match fee for breaking team curfew ahead of the 5th ODI.

Akmal was not picked for the 2019 Cricket World Cup squad.

In October 2019, Umar Akmal was recalled to the T20 side for Pakistan's home series against Sri Lanka. However, he scored two golden ducks in the first two games of the series and was subsequently dropped. As a result, he equalled Tillekaratne Dilshan's record for scoring the most number of ducks in T20Is with 10. Umar Akmal has the record for scoring the second most number of ducks in Twenty 20 cricket history (27) just behind Dwayne Smith.

In June 2019, he was selected to play for the Winnipeg Hawks franchise team in the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament.

On 1 April 2019, Akmal was fined 20% of his match fee for breaking team curfew ahead of the 5th and final ODI of Pakistan's ODI series against Australia. Akmal headed out to watch an Akon concert on the night of 29 March without getting permission from team management.

In April 2018, he was named in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's squad for the 2018 Pakistan Cup. He was the leading run-scorer for Habib Bank Limited in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup, with 410 runs in ten matches. In March 2019, he was named in Baluchistan's squad for the 2019 Pakistan Cup. In the opening match of the tournament, he scored 136 not out, his highest total in List A cricket. He was the leading run-scorer in the tournament, with 342 runs in five matches.

On 24 June 2018, Akmal gave an interview with Samaa TV in which he revealed offers to spot-fix during the 2015 World Cup. Akmal reported that he was offered US$200,000 to "leave two balls alone" but Akmal denied accepting the offer. The PCB issued a show-cause notice and asked Akmal to come before anti-corruption unit on 27 June to explain his comments. The International Cricket Council (ICC) also began conducting its own investigations into the matter.

Domestically, he played for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited for eleven years, before signing with United Bank Limited in August 2017. He has also played in many franchise Twenty20 teams around the world.

Umar was dropped from the ODI side for the series against West Indies due to fitness issues. He was later recalled and included in the ODI squad for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy only to fail a fitness test shortly before the tournament. Akmal was subsequently sent back and was replaced by Haris Sohail.

Akmal was dropped from PCB's list of centrally contracted players on 12 July 2017 due to persistent fitness issues.

On 17 May 2017, the PCB fined Umar Akmal and teammate Junaid Khan 50% of match fees as well as being put on one month probation in relation to an incident that occurred during a Pakistan Cup match against Sindh on 27 April 2017. Akmal, who was captaining Punjab at the time, made comments at the coin toss explaining Junaid Khan's absence from that game, implying that Khan had simply decided not to show up. Later in the day, Khan rebutted the comments in the form of a video shot from his hotel room in which he stated that he was "saddened to hear the remarks Umar Akmal made on television, saying 'I ran away from the team'...I am dealing with a case of food poisoning and the team management is aware of that...Umar Akmal knew of this..."

On 16 August 2017, about one month after losing his central contract due to persistent fitness issues, Umar Akmal held an impromptu press conference in which he criticized then Pakistan national team coach Mickey Arthur. It was reported that Akmal had tried to enter the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to work on his fitness, but none of the coaches wanted to work with Akmal since NCA coaches only work with PCB's centrally contracted players. Akmal then took up this issue with the chief selector at the time Inzamam-ul-Haq who then redirected Akmal to Mickey Arthur. It was at this point that Akmal claimed that Arthur used "abusive language" towards Akmal. In a separate statement to the media, Arthur confirmed that an exchange occurred between himself and Akmal but denied using abusive language, instead saying that "...he had to earn the right to use our support staff because he is not a contracted cricketer. He can't just walk in here and demand what he wants." The PCB issued a show-cause notice to Umar Akmal and formed a committee to investigate the situation. On the 28 September, the PCB fined Akmal 1 million rupees, banned Akmal for 3 matches, and revoked Akmal's No-Objection Certificates (NOC) for the next two months. The revocation of Akmal's NOCs meant that Akmal was ruled out of all but the last two weeks of the Bangladesh Premier League.

He played for Sui Northern Gas in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy until 2016-17, during which time Sui Northern Gas won three times (2007-08, 2014-15, 2015-16). However, he was briefly dropped from the first-class side for the 2012 President's Trophy. Akmal played for United Bank Limited in 2017-18, and for Habib Bank Limited in 2018-19 and won the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with Habib Bank Limited.

Akmal played for Balochistan in the 2016 Pakistan Cup. He captained Punjab in the 2017 Pakistan Cup, with Punjab finishing 4th out of 5th.

Umar Akmal played in the 2016 World Twenty20. Akmal was dropped from the T20 side afterwards. He was also dropped from a training camp afterwards for disciplinary issues.

Umar was bought by Lahore Qalandars for US$140,000 in 2016 season. He performed well and ended up as the highest runs-scorer in PSL 2016 scoring 335 runs in seven innings with four half-centuries. His team didn't qualify for play-offs and finished last in the group stage. He was retained by Lahore Qalandars for 2nd season. He finished the season with 164 runs from 8 matches with only one fifty. He was again retained by Qalandars for 3rd season. He was eventually dropped by Lahore Qalandars for later part of the tournament for his below par performance and disciplinary issues.

During the final of the 2015–16 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on 3-6 January 2016, Akmal reportedly wore a uniform that sported a different logo to that of his teammates. This constituted a charge of committing "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match" which is a Level 1 charge of the PCB's code of conduct. As this was Akmal's third such offense, the PCB banned Akmal for one match, which ruled Akmal out of Pakistan's first T20 during their tour of New Zealand. However, Akmal was allowed to play after the ban was lifted on appeal.

On 26 April 2016, it was reported that Umar Akmal was involved in a brawl at a local theater in Faisalabad. Allegedly Akmal had requested that a song be replayed, but the theater administration denied the request at which point Akmal got into an argument and was ushered outside. Akmal was cleared by the PCB the next day.

Akmal played for the Lahore Lions in the National T20 Cup until 2015-16, during which time Lahore Lions won the tournament three times (2010-11, 2012-13, 2013-14).

Umar was dropped from ODI series against Sri Lanka in 2015, but called to the T20I series. He proved his value to the team, by scoring 24-ball 46 runs in the first T20I match.

Umar Akmal spent two seasons in the Bangladesh Premier League. He played for Chittagong Vikings in the 2015-16 season. The Chittagong Vikings finished bottom of the group that season. Akmal played for the Rajshahi Kings in the 2016-17 season. He played nine games and scored 106 runs at an average of 13.25.

Umar Akmal spent two seasons (2015 and 2016) in the T20 Blast. He played for the Leicestershire Foxes in both seasons. In 2015, he played 4 games and scored 133 runs at an average of 133 with two fifties and a high score of 76*. However, he fared worse in 2016. He played 6 games and scored 134 runs at an average of 33.5 with one 50.

On 12 November 2015, Akmal was dropped from Pakistan's T20 side for their series against England for "bringing the PCB and Pakistan Cricket into disrepute." It was reported that Akmal had attended a party while playing for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match against Hyderabad without the PCB's permission. Local newspaper Daily Kawish Sindhi had reported that some cricketers allegedly were engaging in "immoral activity" at the party. In Akmal's place, Rafatullah Mohmand was called up. Akmal was later reinstated after an investigation by the PCB into the activities at the party.

In 2014 he married Noor Amna, the daughter of Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir.

On 1 February 2014, Akmal was arrested by Gulberg Police in Lahore for allegedly not stopping at a traffic signal and subsequently getting into a physical altercation with the traffic warden which resulted in the warden's uniform being torn. Akmal was booked under Section 186, 279 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code and a First Information Report (FIR) for "obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, rash driving or riding on a public way and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty". Akmal denied the claims and implied that he was physically attacked by the warden. Akmal was released on bail after 12 hours of police detention.

On 16 April 2014, four people were arrested at a party that celebrated Akmal's marriage to Noor Amma, the daughter of Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, for violating local by-laws that were in place to curb excessively lavish wedding parties.

Umar Akmal played for three seasons. He played for the Barbados Tridents in 2013, Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2015, and the Trinbago Knight Riders in 2016.

While he was playing for the Barbados Tridents, in the Caribbean Premier League, he had to spend a night in hospital after he suffered mild seizures. Following this, the PCB called him back for a complete medical checkup and also dropped him from the upcoming Zimbabwe tour. On 6 September 2013, he was cleared by a neurologist, saying that the seizure was possibly due to a lack of sleep.

In February 2012, Pakistan faced England in four ODIs. Pakistan's brittle batting meant the team management chose to play Umar as a wicket-keeper based on his batting, though his brother Adnan was considered the better 'keeper'. The result of choosing the less accomplished glovesman was that in the first two matches Umar Akmal missed opportunities to dismiss Ravi Bopara and Alastair Cook early in their innings, and they respectively went on to score a half-century and a century.

Umar was included in Pakistan's squad for the 2012 World Twenty20. Pakistan made it to the semifinal where they lost to Sri Lanka.

Akmal played for Wayamba United in the 2012 season of the Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL). Akmal played two games and scored 13 runs. However, Akmal would not play another season as the SLPL folded that year.

Akmal was picked for the Sydney Sixers for the 2012-13 Big Bash but did not play a game.

In Pakistan's semifinal loss against Sri Lanka in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, Umar Akmal was fined 50% of his match fee. In the 17th over of the second innings and with Akmal at the non-striker's end, Akmal called for a change of gloves despite instructions from umpires Simon Taufel and Rod Tucker to the contrary. Akmal ignored the umpires and changed his gloves regardless. After the match, Akmal pled guilty and match referee Jeff Crowe handed a level 2 charge and a fine of 50% of match fees, with Crowe noting "Umar showed blatant disregard to both the umpires' requests, which was offensive and unacceptable from an international cricketer and contrary to our unique spirit".

Akmal played his last test match in the one-off test against Zimbabwe in 2011. Akmal scored only 15 in that match and was dropped from the test team thereafter and has yet to be recalled.

Despite the fact that Umar Akmal is not a wicket-keeper he kept wicket for Pakistan temporarily in the third ODI against England in 2010 from the 27th over onwards because his elder brother Kamran was being diagnosed for an injury to his finger. Umar Akmal scored 71 runs from 52 balls in his debut World Cup match and was named Man of the Match.

Umar came to prominence during the Australia A tour in June/July 2009. In the two unofficial Test matches he recorded scores of 54, 100*, 130, 0. In the unofficial ODI series that followed Umar continued his fine form with a century in the opening ODI encounter off just 68 deliveries. These performances made him gather considerable praise from the media who were there to witness him and calls began to grow about his inclusion in the ODI series for the main Pakistan side against Sri Lanka. Later that year, Akmal made his Test, ODI, and T20I debut.

Umar made his Test debut against New Zealand at Dunedin on 23 November 2009. On the third day of his debut test, Umar Akmal hit 129 runs from 160 balls becoming only the second Pakistani to score a hundred on debut away from home after Fawad Alam.

In an interview, Umar said "My own dream is to one day play for Pakistan alongside Kamran Bhai (Umar's brother) and I'm working hard to try and achieve that goal". Akmal was selected in Pakistan's squad for the One Day International Series against Sri Lanka in July/August 2009.

In the final Test match of Pakistan's 2009–10 tour of Australia, Umar Akmal allegedly feigned an injury to protest the dropping of older brother Kamran. Umar denied such rumors and played in the final match without his brother. Pakistan went on to lose that match by 231 runs and lost the three match series 3-0, with Umar Akmal only registering scores of 8 and 15 in the match. He was later fined 2 million Pakistani rupees and put on probation by the PCB for breaching his contract and speaking to the media without approval.

Umar represented Pakistan in the 2008 U/19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia. After his success at the U-19 level he earned himself a first-class contract and played the 2007–08 season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, representing the Sui Northern Gas team. He is considered a future asset for Pakistan cricket.

He found form in the final few matches of the 2008/09 season and then in the RBS T20 tournament thus getting the selectors nod to play for Pakistan A side on their tour to Australia A.

Umar Akmal (Urdu: عمر اکمل ‎; born 26 May 1990) is a Pakistani cricketer. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut on 1 August 2009 against Sri Lanka, his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut on 12 August 2009 against Sri Lanka, and made his Test debut against New Zealand on 23 November 2009. He is a right-handed batsman and a part-time spinner. Like his two brothers, Adnan and Kamran, Umar has kept wicket for the national team in many ODIs.

Umar joined Quetta Gladiators for 4th season as a result of a trade. He scored 277 runs in 12 matches in the tournament.

He is an aggressive style cricketer. In only his sixth first-class match he smashed 248 off just 225 deliveries, including four sixes. He followed that up with an unbeaten 186 in his 8th first-class match, off just 170 balls. He fared less well in his second season of first-class cricket, with a string of low scores batting at number 3.