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What are your thoughts on the punishment given to Umar Akmal?

What are your thoughts on the punishment given to Umar Akmal?

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MenInG

MenInG

PakPassion Administrator
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In a sense he had it coming to him but did the PCB go overboard or was the punishment right?
 
3 years looks like a lifetime but should it have been life?
 
People will say that 3 years is too much and cite examples of Butt, Amir, Sharjeel. I disagree. It is the right amount and Butt, Amir, Sharjeel should have been given longer sentences.

The obvious reaction to this is “hypocrisy”. However, the PCB cannot retroactively revise the bans on previous players. If this 3 year ban is the start of a new policy to be more strict with fixers in the future, it is very much welcomed.

Maybe more kids will think twice the next time someone offers them a Rolex.
 
My initial response is visible in the original thread: "he deserves this, he has nobody to blame but himself, he must have done something really bad rather than just not report an approach (for which I would have given him 12 months)".

The thing is, when you read the appalling PCB comments you realise "oh no, he's actually been stitched up".

Umar Akmal is the Donald Trump of Pakistan cricket. He is actually a gifted batsman who could be an exceptional one.

But he overestimates his ability, he fails to prepare hard enough and he turns up unfit and unready to perform.

In the case of this hearing, rather like the President at his briefings about Coronavirus, he assumes that he doesn't need to be properly briefed before a public hearing and he turns up and says dumb things that he thinks are smart.

As a result he has had the book thrown at him for pleading guilty but then trying to explain why he did what he did. It is his own fault, but does it merit this level of ban? In effect, an uneducated fool has received a harsher ban than he would have not because his offence was particularly bad but because like Trump he turned up unprepared and riffed off the top of his head at his tribunal and said dumb and uneducated things.
 
Junaids said:
My initial response is visible in the original thread: "he deserves this, he has nobody to blame but himself, he must have done something really bad rather than just not report an approach (for which I would have given him 12 months)".

The thing is, when you read the appalling PCB comments you realise "oh no, he's actually been stitched up".

Umar Akmal is the Donald Trump of Pakistan cricket. He is actually a gifted batsman who could be an exceptional one.

But he overestimates his ability, he fails to prepare hard enough and he turns up unfit and unready to perform.

In the case of this hearing, rather like the President at his briefings about Coronavirus, he assumes that he doesn't need to be properly briefed before a public hearing and he turns up and says dumb things that he thinks are smart.

As a result he has had the book thrown at him for pleading guilty but then trying to explain why he did what he did. It is his own fault, but does it merit this level of ban? In effect, an uneducated fool has received a harsher ban than he would have not because his offence was particularly bad but because like Trump he turned up unprepared and riffed off the top of his head at his tribunal and said dumb and uneducated things.
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Even putting Umar Akmal's rapsheet aside, the thing which killed him the most is that this is not the first time he has not reported an offer to fix, he has played for Pakistan for a good 10 years and he knew his responsibilities. The 3 year ban is very appropriate
 
If he didn't fix games, I think this punishment was harsh.

Failure to report should result in a few months ban.
 
He'd have received a smaller ban if he had proper legal representation. By representing himself in court he walked into the lions den and messed up in front of the judge.

How he can be so foolish when his career is at stake is unbelievable. It also shows that nobody can control what Umar Akmal does. There isn't a sane person in his circle who could have recommended him to go and represent himself in court.

This guy needs to be accessing mental health support ASAP.
 
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hitthestump said:
He'd have received a smaller ban if he had proper legal representation. By representing himself in court he walked into the lions den and messed up in front of the judge.

How he can be so foolish when his career is at stake is unbelievable. It also shows that nobody can control what Umar Akmal does. There isn't a sane person in his circle who could have recommended him to go and represent himself in court.

This guy needs to be accessing mental health support ASAP.
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Lol he thought he was going to be speaking to some lenient fans believing in his talent. The reason why he chose not to contest the charges and plead guilty was the assumption that it might make the PCB go easy on him.
 
I think there are others who've committed crimes of higher magnitude but are in brink of selection,this certainly goes down as a harsh punishment,he is stupid but doesn't seems cunning
 
Junaids said:
My initial response is visible in the original thread: "he deserves this, he has nobody to blame but himself, he must have done something really bad rather than just not report an approach (for which I would have given him 12 months)".

The thing is, when you read the appalling PCB comments you realise "oh no, he's actually been stitched up".

Umar Akmal is the Donald Trump of Pakistan cricket. He is actually a gifted batsman who could be an exceptional one.

But he overestimates his ability, he fails to prepare hard enough and he turns up unfit and unready to perform.

In the case of this hearing, rather like the President at his briefings about Coronavirus, he assumes that he doesn't need to be properly briefed before a public hearing and he turns up and says dumb things that he thinks are smart.

As a result he has had the book thrown at him for pleading guilty but then trying to explain why he did what he did. It is his own fault, but does it merit this level of ban? In effect, an uneducated fool has received a harsher ban than he would have not because his offence was particularly bad but because like Trump he turned up unprepared and riffed off the top of his head at his tribunal and said dumb and uneducated things.
Click to expand...

Please, enough with the victimizing of UA. It's not just the lack of professional representation that did him. There was an underlying theme of him expecting and pre-supposing leniency from the PCB on his part, given that the PCB have cut him enough slack before. However, UA's lack of remorse was what broke the proverbial dam.

InshAllah this will be a line in the sand moment for the PCB regarding corruption in the game. Dwelling on differing punishments from past/other cases relative to this one, solves nothing and satisfies no one.
 
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Hadi Rizvi said:
Life sentence for a failure to report an approach?

Are you serious?
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Why do you guys keep saying an approach when its clear it was multiple approaches over periods of time? I mean all reports mention MULTIPLE approaches and he has been charged under multiple sections
 
The fact there has been no hue and cry from the media, fans, ex player tells it all. Even Die Hard Umar Akmal supporters cannot deny that the guy had outlived his hundred lives and could not be shown any more leniency.
 
hitthestump said:
He'd have received a smaller ban if he had proper legal representation. By representing himself in court he walked into the lions den and messed up in front of the judge.

How he can be so foolish when his career is at stake is unbelievable. It also shows that nobody can control what Umar Akmal does. There isn't a sane person in his circle who could have recommended him to go and represent himself in court.

This guy needs to be accessing mental health support ASAP.
Click to expand...

This just sums up his entire career. The guy was ultimately dumb who could never wake up and smell the coffee. He could never be honest even with himself.
 
Indiafan said:
Why do you guys keep saying an approach when its clear it was multiple approaches over periods of time? I mean all reports mention MULTIPLE approaches and he has been charged under multiple sections
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Regardless.

A life-ban for failing to report multiple approaches!

What are you guys, the Devil's advocate?
 
Lost cause Umar Akmal? Mickey Arthur thinks so

PakPassion.net: Umar Akmal has been a thorn in the side of many coaches. What are your thoughts on him?

Mickey Arthur: It’s definitely too late for him now. It’s sad because he is a likable enough bloke but what he needed was a real firm hand at the start of his career to guide him properly. I don’t think he got the right messages earlier in his career because if he had, he wouldn’t have gone down the route he has chosen to. He was frustrating to work with. He has all the talent in the world but has wasted it and unfortunately, he will now go down in history as one Pakistan player who has underachieved.
 
MenInG said:
Lost cause Umar Akmal? Mickey Arthur thinks so

PakPassion.net: Umar Akmal has been a thorn in the side of many coaches. What are your thoughts on him?

Mickey Arthur: It’s definitely too late for him now. It’s sad because he is a likable enough bloke but what he needed was a real firm hand at the start of his career to guide him properly. I don’t think he got the right messages earlier in his career because if he had, he wouldn’t have gone down the route he has chosen to. He was frustrating to work with. He has all the talent in the world but has wasted it and unfortunately, he will now go down in history as one Pakistan player who has underachieved.
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I don’t think he has underachieved, our expectations from him were far too much.

At most, he should have been a decent keeper who can score handy runs with the bat at number 6-7. Or open the batting as a keeper. His average of 30-35 and his strike rate of 90 would look so much more useful in this scenario.

Pakistan took the wrong route with playing him at 4-5, expecting him to emulate middle order stalwarts like Inzimam, Mohammad Yousuf, Miandad and dare I say Salim Malik (plus Younis Khan in Tests).
 
Rana said:
I don’t think he has underachieved, our expectations from him were far too much.

At most, he should have been a decent keeper who can score handy runs with the bat at number 6-7. Or open the batting as a keeper. His average of 30-35 and his strike rate of 90 would look so much more useful in this scenario.

Pakistan took the wrong route with playing him at 4-5, expecting him to emulate middle order stalwarts like Inzimam, Mohammad Yousuf, Miandad and dare I say Salim Malik (plus Younis Khan in Tests).
Click to expand...

Part of being involved in the struggle that is top level sports, is to rise to the challenges set for you.

Umar Akmal absolutely had the ability to become THE cornerstone of Pakistan's batting line up when he debuted.

The debut century against SL, the test century away to NZ, the blistering innings against Aus in the 2010 World T20 Semi (the Ajmal-Hussey game). That's not some flash in the pan guy, but a lad with genuine match changing ability.

Let me say this as well. UA had a higher base and hence a higher ceiling than even Virat Kohli when they first came up. However, history will associate Kohli with words like attitude, self sacrifice, and hunger when describing his career. History will also associate Umar Akmal with the words entitlement, lack of ownership, lack of effort, terrible support structures when describing his career. Before this latest ignominy I still hoped that the penny would drop, but alas..

Lastly, in an exchange with [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] I agreed that the legal process towards deciding the ban length is incredibly flawed.

However, I'm still happy with the ban length given his lack of contrition (which admittedly shouldn't affect the ban length) and because we HAVE to set a precedent regarding corruption in Pakistan cricket. My contentment with tge ban length has nothing to do with his failed potential. I pray that he is able to provide for his family during this time. However what he doesn't deserve is to hold up a place of a more deserving youngster in the Central Punjab domestic side.
 
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KingOfPakBreakfast said:
However what he doesn't deserve is to hold up a place of a more deserving youngster in the Central Punjab domestic side.
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Hadn’t even thought about this. Can we potentially see Abdullah Shafique get a chance next season? [MENTION=56866]Bullet Drive[/MENTION] you must be ecstatic :afridi
 
I think it is way too much...and if this is the precedence, then do all players who do not report a booky approaching them also receive a minimum of 3 years?
 
Asifnow said:
I think it is way too much...and if this is the precedence, then do all players who do not report a booky approaching them also receive a minimum of 3 years?
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Forget the past. In the future, yes ideally. There is no excuse for not reporting an approach given how much education there is on this now
 
Thunderbolt14 said:
Forget the past. In the future, yes ideally. There is no excuse for not reporting an approach given how much education there is on this now
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The past? I am talking about the future. I think a 3 year ban from cricket is too much, match fixers have not received that....however, if this is the case from now on then the PCB will have to be very consistent with it.
 
Asifnow said:
The past? I am talking about the future. I think a 3 year ban from cricket is too much, match fixers have not received that....however, if this is the case from now on then the PCB will have to be very consistent with it.
Click to expand...

That’s what I mean by the past. Like you said, let’s set this as the policy moving forward, keep it strict, and be consistent with it.
 
If I could go through the charge sheet, probably then we could have commented here confidently - this guy Umar Akmal has created trouble so many times in so many avenues that you never know. If it's only for failing to report a corruption offer, even multiple times, it's indeed extremely harsh; basically a death nail on his career. He'll be officially 30, come October - add few years with that biologically and considering his appetite/thirst, three years is too long for him to remain in shape. If three years starts from the day of verdict, chances are high that he'll miss 3 seasons 2020-21, 22 and 23 and probably up to PSL 2023. If so - that's the end of it; he won't make a comeback.
 
He should have gotten banned for life.
 
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