The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended Lahore Qalandars’ left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman for two matches after he was found guilty of ball tampering during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) fixture against Karachi Kings.
According to an official PCB statement issued on Tuesday, Fakhar committed a Level 3 offence by violating Article 2.14 of the PSL Code of Conduct, which relates to altering the condition of the ball in an unlawful manner. As a result, he will miss two upcoming matches in the tournament.
Incident at Gaddafi Stadium
The incident occurred during the closing stages of the match on March 29 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. On-field umpires penalised Lahore Qalandars five runs and ordered a ball replacement just before the final over of Karachi Kings’ innings.
This decision came after a brief exchange between Fakhar, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, and fast bowler Haris Rauf, during which Fakhar and Rauf were seen passing the ball between them before it was inspected by the umpire.
Following a consultation among match officials, the penalty was enforced, a move that proved crucial. Karachi Kings’ Abbas Afridi capitalised on the situation, hitting a four and a six to secure a four-wicket victory with three balls remaining.
Disciplinary Proceedings and Decision
The charge against Fakhar was levelled by on-field umpires Shahid Saikat and Faisal Khan Aafreedi, along with TV umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Tariq Rasheed.
Although Fakhar denied the allegation and contested it during a formal disciplinary hearing, match referee Roshan Mahanama upheld the charge after reviewing the evidence. Team representatives, including Shaheen Afridi, team director Sameen Rana, and manager Farooq Anwar, were also present during the proceedings.
JioStar Terminates IPL Broadcast Deal in Bangladesh Over Payment Default
Rules and Consequences
Under Article 2.14, actions such as applying artificial substances, scratching the ball, tampering with the seam, or deliberately roughening its surface are strictly prohibited. A Level 3 offence carries a penalty ranging from a one-match to a two-match ban, with players allowed to appeal within 48 hours.
Impact on Lahore Qalandars
Following the suspension, Fakhar will miss key upcoming matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 in Lahore and Islamabad United on April 9 in Karachi.
Reacting after the match, Shaheen Afridi stated that the team would review the situation, acknowledging the impact of the five-run penalty but refraining from further comment.
