Relief for Umar Akmal as court reduces ban to 12 months.

LAHORE -- The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on Friday reduced Umar Akmal's ban to 12 months, which he has been serving since his suspension on February 20 last year.

A press release by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that Akmal had been found guilty of violating Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Ant--Corruption Code and a fine of Rs4.25 million had been imposed on him.

The right-handed batsman - who was suspended on February 20, 2020 - "will now be eligible to reintegrate into competitive cricket subject to deposits of fine of PKR4,250,000 and undergoing the program of rehabilitation under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code", said the PCB.

The CAS has also turned down Akmal's request to obtain his two mobile phones back which are being held by the PCB for different investigations, adding that as per the PCB's Anti-Corruption Code, the body has the right to do so.

On 27 April 2020, the Chairman Disciplinary Panel had found Umar Akmal guilty on two charges of separate breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated...