KARACHI, May 14 -- If ever a soap opera were to be made about Pakistan cricket, Umar Akmal might be a good candidate for the role of enfant terrible. The talented-yet-wayward batsman is scrambling to save his once-promising career, after he was hit with a three-year ban for failing to report match-fixing offers. Umar is expected to learn the fate of an appeal to last month's disciplinary action on or about May 26, which also happens to be his 30th birthday. Right now, the signs don't look good.

Umar declined to speak for this story, but several experts suggested Pakistan's close-knit cricketing world is fed up. "Umar is not prepared to show remorse and seek apology," the judgement accompanying Umar's ban states. Ramiz Raja, a former Paki...