Lahore Qalandars batsman Fakhar Zaman has been accused of ball-tampering during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Karachi Kings on Sunday, targeting not only the player but also the possibility of further action against the franchise.
The incident occurred in the final with Karachi needing 14 runs to win. Fakhar was seen having a conversation with captain Shaheen Afridi and fast bowler Haris Rauf during which Fakhar and Rauf exchanged the ball.
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The referees intervened soon after. Rauf was summoned and asked to hand over the ball for review. After a discussion between the on-field umpires, five penalty runs were awarded to Karachi and the ball was replaced.
The decision had a direct impact on the outcome. Chasing a target of 129 runs with three balls to spare, Karachi hit a boundary with a six to seal a four-wicket victory.
FAKHAR denies the allegations
Fakhar denied the allegations during a disciplinary hearing conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
“Another hearing is to be held within the next 48 hours, after which the match referee will deliver his verdict,” the PCB added.
While the allegation is against Fakhar, the involvement of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf in the sequence has also attracted attention. Both players were part of the exchange before the referees got involved, although no action against them has yet been confirmed.
Afridi said during the post-match presentation that the team will look into the incident.
“I don’t know about that and we’ll see if it’s there on camera and we’ll discuss it,” he said.
PSL: WILL FAKHAR BE BANNED?
According to PSL rules, a first ball-tampering offense can lead to a one- or two-match suspension. But the wider question is whether the incident leads to any further scrutiny of the Lahore Qalandars as a unit.
Sanctions at the team level remain uncommon, but the final decision will depend on the results of the hearing.
The case also recalls the 2018 ball-tampering incident during Australia’s tour of South Africa, where Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft received lengthy bans.
Currently, the process is still ongoing. When the verdict comes, he will decide whether it remains an individual crime or something that goes beyond it.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
30 March 2026 16:35 IST
