Umar Akmal has been suspended by the PCB with immediate effect under Article 4.7.1 of its anti-corruption code, disallowing him from taking part in any cricket-related activity under the board's purview "pending the investigation being carried out by PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit".

A PCB statement announced the development, but didn't reveal anything about the nature of the offence or the duration of the suspension. First up, though, it will mean that Akmal will not be a part of Quetta Gladiators' title defence at the PSL, which starts on Thursday against Islamabad United, but Quetta "are allowed to apply for Umar Akmal's replacement".

More to follow…