PCB charges Fakhar Zaman with ball-tampering in PSL match

Published
0
Lahore Qalandars’ captain Shaheen Shah Afridi (L) speaks with teammate Fakhar Zaman (R) during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 match between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on March 29, 2026. — AFP
Lahore Qalandars’ captain Shaheen Shah Afridi (L) speaks with teammate Fakhar Zaman (R) during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 match between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on March 29, 2026. — AFP

Lahore Qalandars batter Fakhar Zaman has been charged with ball-tampering in Sunday’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Karachi Kings, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

The incident occurred in the final over with Karachi needing 14 runs to win. Fakhar, Lahore captain Shaheen Afridi and fast bowler Haris Rauf were involved in a brief discussion, during which Fakhar and Rauf passed the ball between them.

The umpire then approached Rauf and asked to see the ball. Following consultations with the square-leg umpire, the officials awarded five penalty runs to Karachi and ordered the ball to be changed.

The penalty proved costly as Karachi went on to chase down a target of 129 with three balls to spare, Abbas Afridi hitting a four and a six to seal a four-wicket victory.

“Fakhar denied the charge levelled against him during a disciplinary hearing led by the match referee Roshan Mahanama,” the PCB said.

“Another hearing is set to take place within the next 48 hours after which the match referee will share his verdict.”

Afridi said they would look at video footage of the incident.

“I don’t know about this, and we’ll see if it’s there in the camera and discuss it,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Fakhar could face a ban of one or two matches if found guilty of ball tampering for a first offence in the PSL.

Australian trio David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were handed lengthy bans by Cricket Australia following a 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

Opinion

Editorial

Regional security
Updated 28 Oct, 2026

Regional security

Iran and the Makkah pact states should pledge not to let external actors use their soil to launch aggression against each other.
Rate hike
28 Oct, 2026

Rate hike

THE SBP’s decision to raise its policy rate by 50 basis points to 12pc was largely expected. It is also justified...
Press solidarity
28 Oct, 2026

Press solidarity

PAKISTAN’S journalists have seldom lacked organisations speaking in defence of press freedom. What has been ...
Privatisation framework
Updated 27 Oct, 2026

Privatisation framework

The proposed merger of the Privatisation Commission and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A) into a single institution is a sensible move.
Chromebook scheme
Updated 27 Oct, 2026

Chromebook scheme

Technology can widen opportunity, but only when it is tied to good teaching, reliable connectivity and clear educational purpose.
Dengue season
27 Oct, 2026

Dengue season

ANOTHER dengue outbreak looms over the country for reasons of lack of preparedness and negligence. This month’s...