The PCB did not reveal the exact nature of Akmal's offence, but said in a statement issued Thursday that "the batsman cannot take part in any cricket-related activity pending the investigation being carried out by the PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit."

The suspension means Akmal will not be able to represent Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League as the title defenders will take on Islamabad United in the opening match later on Thursday night.

The PCB said that Quetta could apply for Akmal's replacement for the fifth edition of the tournament which will be played in its entirety in Pakistan for the first time in four years.

Last week the PCB reprimanded Akmal but did not sanction the batsman for his alleged misbehaviour with a staff member after a failed fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

He was also sent back home from England in 2017 when he failed a fitness test before the Champions Trophy which Pakistan won.

The 29-year-old Akmal made a century in his debut test against New Zealand in 2009, but has played only 16 Test matches since, scoring 1,003 runs with the last test against Zimbabwe in 2011.

In white-ball cricket, Akmal scored 3,194 runs in 121 ODIs and 1,690 runs in 84 Twenty20s.

He was recalled for the three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka at Lahore last year, but was out without scoring in the first two games before getting dropped.

Australian Associated Press