Karachi Kings captain David Warner has been charged with mid-level drink-driving following an incident in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Easter Sunday. The former Australian opening batsman, who is currently leading the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), returned to his hometown for a planned four-day break during the gap in tournament schedules.
NSW Police confirmed that a 39-year-old man was stopped on South Dowling Street for a random breath test on April 5 at approximately 11.20pm. Warner reportedly returned a positive result on the road and was subsequently taken to Surry Hills Police Station for secondary breath analysis.
Police records show Warner registered a reading of 0.104 – more than twice the legal limit of 0.05 in Australia. He has been issued with a Court Appearance Notice for the PCA and is at risk of having his New South Wales license suspended.
A New South Wales Police spokesman said: “The driver has been issued a summons to appear at the Downing Center Local Court on Thursday 7 May. The individual has been released pending his court appearance while inquiries are ongoing.”
WILL WARNER BACK TO PLAY PSL?
The timing of the incident has raised concerns in the Karachi Kings camp as the PSL approaches its crucial stages. However, reports suggest that Warner’s participation in the rest of the tournament is not in immediate danger.
Under Australian law, a moderate drink driving charge does not usually result in a travel ban or surrender of passport unless the person is considered a significant flight risk or the offense does not involve more serious aggravating factors. As no restrictive bail conditions have been imposed, Warner is free to leave Australia.
He is expected to rejoin Karachi Kings ahead of their next match on April 9 against Peshawar Zalmi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to issue an official statement regarding any possible disciplinary action, although the league’s code of conduct generally considers off-field legal matters in a player’s home country a private matter as long as they do not contaminate the game.
Warner’s May 7 court appearance is scheduled long after the PSL season ends, allowing him to fulfill his commitments in Pakistan before returning to Sydney. Conviction of a moderate PCA offense in New South Wales carries maximum penalties including a fine of $2,200, imprisonment and a mandatory period of disqualification.
Warner was in excellent form before his brief return home in Karachi. Notably, he hit a 36-ball half-century in their win over Rawalpindi on 2 April, helping the side chase down a challenging target of 198.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
07 Apr 2026 16:13 IST
