Raza has been cleared of all charges

Former Pakistan spinner Akram Raza, who was banned from umpiring due to claims that he illegally bet on matches, has been allowed to resume his duties as an umpire after being reinstated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Akram was arrested during last year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) after police raided bookie stores all over Lahore.

After battling for a year to clear his name, Raza was successful in resuming his duties as an umpire for the PCB.

The PCB announced that Raza would be named as the match official in the inaugural President’s Trophy Grade 1.

PCB general director Javed Miandad stated that the board has been provided with enough proof to show that Raza was innocent.

“He [Akram] has cleared his name and wanted to revive his services, there is no surprise in reinstating him as in the past, so many players in contention extended their playing careers so there is no difference in this case too. He actually came up with the court notice which proves that he has cleared his name and we cannot challenge the court order. After a lengthy deliberation, we decided to reinstate him. He was one of the top umpires in the circuit and we have no reason to snub him if he has cleared his name,” Miandad said.

Raza represented Pakistan in nine Test matches and 49 ODIs in a career that spanned from 1989 to 1995.

In 2000, Raza was one of six Pakistani players to be fined after a match-fixing inquiry was undertaken by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum.

Raza had been umpiring first-class matches in Pakistan for six years before he was arrested in 2011.

Speaking exclusively to ESPNcricinfo, Raza said: “I have reapplied for job after the court cleared me, I once again insist that I had nothing to do with the betting. The PCB had suspended me but I fought my case in court over the last year to come clean. Unfortunately, I have lost ample time in court cases but now it’s time to do my umpiring job.”