Umar Akmal eligible for Pakistan return after ban reduced to 12 months

The wicketkeeper-batsman has made 221 appearances in all formats for Pakistan, scoring nearly 6,000 runs

Umar Akmal is eligible for a recall to the Pakistan national team after his 18-month ban for failing to report corrupt approaches was reduced to a year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The 30-year old, who made his international debut against Sri Lanka in 2009, has also been fined 4.25million Pakistani rupees (£18,925) and will have to undergo a rehabilitation programme under the Pakistan Cricket Board’s anti-corruption code before he can return to competitive cricket.

Akmal was initially suspended in February 2020 after admitting to failing to report corrupt approaches made during the Pakistan Super League and was subsequently banned for three years.

The ban was later reduced to 18-months (backdated to his suspension) following an appeal in July 2020.

Commenting on the result, Akmal said; "I am fully ready and excited to play cricket again. It was tough being out and sitting at home with my bread and butter taken away.

^{Umar Akmal (centre), in happier times, celebrating scoring a century for Pakistan against West Indies during the 2015 Cricket World Cup}

"I am very thankful to my family, after Allah, and everyone who stood by me and helped me return to cricket.

"I don't want to comment on my national selection. It's my job to play cricket and perform and it's up to them [the selectors] - if they think it's better for the country [to include me], then they will definitely give a chance."

Akmal, a middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper, has made 221 appearances for Pakistan in all formats, scoring 5,887 runs and three centuries. His most recent appearance came in a T20 against Sri Lanka in October 2019 when he was dismissed for a golden duck.

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