Fakhar Zaman Faces Ban Risk Over PSL Ball-Tampering Charge
News Desk
Lahore: Lahore Qalandars batter Fakhar Zaman has been charged with a Level 3 offence for alleged ball tampering during the sixth match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) XI against Karachi Kings, adding a new layer of controversy to an already dramatic contest.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Fakhar denied the allegations during a hearing conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama.
The board confirmed that a follow-up hearing will take place within the next 48 hours, after which a final decision will be announced. If found guilty, Fakhar could face at least a one-match suspension under Level 3 offence regulations.
The issue surfaced during the final stages of the match when umpires penalised Lahore Qalandars for altering the condition of the ball. Karachi Kings were awarded five penalty runs just before the last over, reducing their target from 14 runs to nine.
Following the decision, the ball was changed at the request of the batting side, and Karachi Kings went on to secure victory with three balls to spare.
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Fakhar, 35, who has represented Pakistan in over 200 international matches, strongly rejected the accusations both on the field and during the post-match hearing.
Under the Laws of Cricket, specifically Law 41.3.2, players are prohibited from changing the condition of the ball in any way other than polishing it, with violations considered a serious offence. In PSL regulations, such incidents are reported by umpires to the match referee, who holds authority to impose sanctions.
The controversy is further highlighted by the presence of Karachi Kings captain David Warner, who previously served a 12-month ban for his role in Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Reacting to the development, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said he was not fully aware of the details and indicated the team would review the incident after watching the match footage.
Meanwhile, both the PSL administration and PCB have yet to issue any further official response beyond the initial statement, as scrutiny intensifies over the incident that played a decisive role in the match outcome.
