The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday banned Umar Akmal from all cricket for three years for not reporting a fixing offer before the start of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League, a crime under the board's anti-corruption code.

According to a tweet by the board, the decision was taken by the chairman of the disciplinary panel Justice (r) Fazal-i-Miran Chauhan.

Akmal represented himself at the hearing held at the National Cricket Academy while the PCB was represented by Taffazul Rizvi, a press release stated.

The statement added that the PCB will release the reasons for the ban as soon as it receives them from Justice Chauhan.

PCB Anti-Corruption and Security Director Lt Col Asif Mahmood, said: “The PCB doesn’t take any pleasure in seeing a promising international cricketer being declared ineligible for three years on corruption charges, but this is once again a timely reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anti-corruption code.

“The anti-corruption unit regularly holds education seminars and refresher courses at all levels to remind all professional cricketers of their obligations and responsibilities. And even then if some cricketers decide to take the code in their hands, then this is how things will pan out.

“I request all professional cricketers to stay away from the menace of corruption and immediately inform the relevant authorities as soon as they are approached. This is in their best interest as well as that of the teams and the country.”

On February 20, PCB had suspended Akmal with immediate effect.

Akmal had not requested for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal after he was charged for two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB's Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents.

He was also sidelined from the PSL immediately barring him from playing for Quetta Gladiators.

Article 2.4.4 of the code reads: “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”.

Article 4.8.1 of the code reads: “In such circumstances, a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal shall not be required. Instead, the chairman of the disciplinary panel (sitting alone) shall issue a public decision confirming the offence(s) under this Anti-Corruption Code specified in the notice of charge and the imposition of an applicable sanction within the range specified in the notice of charge.

"Before issuing that public decision, the chairman of the Disciplinary Panel will provide written notice of that decision to the National Cricket Federation to which the Participant is affiliated, the PCB Vigilance and Security Department and the ICC.”

In 2018, Akmal had told Samaa TV that he was approached by bookmakers during the 2015 World Cup to leave two balls for $200,000.

That offer, he had said, was just one of many he had been approached with over the years.

"I had got an offer during the World Cup to leave two balls alone and they were willing to pay me $200,000 for that," Akmal had said.

"It was our first match against India in the 2015 World Cup [...] in fact, every match I play against India, they offer me money to make some excuse and opt out of the game. But I have told those people that I am very sincere about playing for Pakistan and to not talk to me on this topic ever again," he had said.