Fakhar Zaman faces a two-match ban after being found guilty of ball tampering in PSL, with the controversy proving decisive in Lahore Qalandars’ loss.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended Fakhar Zaman for two matches in the Pakistan Super League following a ball-tampering incident during Lahore Qalandars’ clash against Karachi Kings.
“Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two HBL PSL matches after he was found guilty of a Level 3 offence for breaching Article 2.14 of the applicable Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during the Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings match on Sunday,” PSL said in a media release.
“Fakhar denied the offence and contested the charge at a full disciplinary hearing in accordance with the code of conduct. Match Referee Roshan Mahanama conducted the disciplinary hearing and made the determination after reviewing all evidence,” the statement added.
Despite denying the charge, Fakhar now has 48 hours to appeal the decision made by match referee Roshan Mahanama.
Controversial Final Over Incident Explained
The incident occurred just before the final over of the match, when multiple Qalandars players—including Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf—were seen repeatedly handling the ball. This unusual activity raised suspicions, prompting the on-field umpire to intervene and request a ball inspection.
Officials concluded that the condition of the ball had been altered, leading to a five-run penalty awarded to Karachi Kings. The timing proved crucial, as the target shifted from 14 runs off the final over to just nine, significantly easing the chase and swinging momentum in Karachi’s favour.
ALSO READ | BCCI Reveals IPL 2026 Full Schedule for Phase 2 Starting April 13
Past Controversies and Broader Context
The latest episode has brought renewed attention to Fakhar Zaman’s past, including an incident during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against the USA, where he was seen handling the ball in an unusual manner. While concerns were raised at the time, no formal action was taken.
Ball tampering has long been a sensitive issue in Pakistan cricket, with several allegations surfacing over the decades involving prominent players. While not all cases resulted in punishment, such incidents continue to attract scrutiny and debate within the cricketing world.
This article follows WicketWatcher’s editorial standards. Learn more in our Editorial Policy or report an issue via our Corrections Policy.