Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal has earned himself a three-year ban from all forms of cricket for a period of 3 years on corruption charges by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Disciplinary Panel.

The PCB Anti-Corruption officials had charged Umar with in two separate cases of not reporting an approach made to him to spot fix matches in the Pakistan Super League 5. Umar was given until 31 March to respond to the show cause notice sent to him by the PCB but he decided to not challenge it.

According to India Today, Akmal is now the second big name among Pakistani cricketers who have been caught in corruption scandals and banned. The first major case being of opening batsman Sharjeel Khan, who was handed a 5-year ban (half of it suspended) in 2017 for his role in the spot-fixing scandal that marred the PSL earlier that year.

Shahid Afridi made comments on Akmal’s behaviour and charges.

“I feel these examples should have been set in the past but this didn’t happen and that is why we have seen such cases on regular basis,” Afridi told the Geo channel.

“I have nothing against anyone but even now if the Board wants to set an example it can do that. Only then can we hope to curtail such cases,” he added.

Afridi was always a big supporter of Umar Akmal and shared his disappointment in seeing a fine player get caught up in corruption scandals like these.

“Umar really needs to look at the company he keeps. He needs to get his priorities sorted out. He is a fine batsman but he can’t keep on carrying like this.”