LAHORE: Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal’s three-year ban from cricket for failing to report a match-fixing approach was on Wednesday reduced to 18 months on appeal, meaning he can resume playing in August next year.
Former Pakistan supreme court judge and independent adjudicator Faqir Mohammad Khokhar announced the appeal result, which had been reserved two weeks ago, after a short hearing in Lahore attended by Akmal and his lawyer.
Akmal pleaded guilty in April to a charge of failing to report two match-fixing approaches and received a three-year ban for each offense, to run concurrently from February 20.
The anti-corruption code of Pakistan Cricket Board states that players must report all the corrupt approaches to the authorities.
Despite the reduction, Akmal complained he had been unfairly treated.
“I am still not satisfied because other players got less punishment on the same charge,” Umar told media, referring to a one-year ban (six months suspended) handed to fast bowler Mohammad Irfan in 2017.
Irfan had not contested the charge of failing to report and was given an “agreed sanction.”
“I will consult my lawyers and then try to get it reduced further,” Akmal said.
Following a brilliant Test debut in 2009 when he scored a century in New Zealand, the talented Akmal was touted as a future great but his career has been punctuated by controversy before this year’s ban.
Akmal was arrested in 2014 after a scuffle with a traffic warden in Lahore.
And he was banned for three matches and fined over a spat with Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur in 2017.
Pakistan’s Akmal has three-year cricket ban halved on appeal
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Pakistan’s Akmal has three-year cricket ban halved on appeal
- Akmal complained he had been unfairly treated
- He pleaded guilty in April to a charge of failing to report two match-fixing approaches
Pakistan police say 27 cops killed in 134 attacks in restive Bannu district in 2025
- Bannu is a restive district in northwestern Pakistan where militants frequently attack law enforcers
- Police say at least 20 drone attacks by militants killed nine civilians, injured 19 cops during the year
PESHAWAR: Police in Pakistan’s northwestern Bannu district said this week that at least 27 police personnel were killed in 134 attacks while 53 militants were killed during various security operations in the volatile area during the year, as Islamabad grapples with a surge in militancy.
Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province is one of Pakistan’s most dangerous districts, where militants affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) frequently target law enforcers in attacks.
Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday that at least 134 “terrorist attacks” were recorded in Bannu district during 2025 that targeted police stations, posts, checkpoints, police mobiles and police parties.
“As a result of these attacks, 27 police personnel were martyred and 79 were injured,” a statement issued by Bannu Police said on Wednesday.
It said at least 168 intelligence-based operations were conducted by police across the district during the year, in which 105 militants were arrested and 65 were killed.
Khan informed media that militants carried out 20 drone attacks targeting police installations and civilian areas in 2025, killing nine civilians and injuring 19 police personnel.
“However, following the installation of an anti-drone system in Bannu district on Jul. 18, 2025, the situation improved significantly,” the statement said. “More than 300 drone attacks were thwarted, and four drones were struck/spoofed.”
He said the Bannu police force has been equipped with drones, anti-drone guns, sniper rifles, armored personnel carriers (APCs), thermal imaging systems, tactical helmets and bulletproof vehicles.
“Bannu police reiterates its resolve to continue its struggle to maintain law and order in the district, completely eliminate terrorism and protect the lives and property of the public,” the statement concluded.
Pakistan blames the Afghan government for facilitating TTP attacks inside its territory, a charge Kabul denies. The surge in militant attacks has strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading to deadly border clashes in October that saw dozens killed and several wounded on both sides.
