Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman (AP/PTI) Fakhar Zaman has failed in his bid to overturn his ban, with the Pakistan Super League’s appeals body upholding a two-match ban for ball-tampering during a recent match. The opening team Lahore Qalandars challenged the penalty imposed by match referee Roshan Mahanama, but a three-member panel dismissed the appeal after scrutinizing the evidence. “Fakhar Zaman has appealed the match referee’s decision to suspend him for two PSL matches for breaching Article 2.14 of the applicable code of conduct for players and support staff during the Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings match on Sunday, March 29 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore,” a PCB release said. The appeal was heard by a technical panel comprising Professor Javed Malik, Dr Mumraiz Naqshband and Syed Ali Naqi who conducted a fresh review of the case before reaching the verdict. “The appeal was heard today by the PSL Technical Committee… After conducting a de novo enquiry, reviewing all the evidence and hearing submissions from relevant persons, the Appeal Committee rejected and upheld the two-match ban imposed by match referee Roshan Mahanama,” the statement added. The charge relates to Article 2.14, which deals with “Changing the condition of the ball contrary to Article 41.3 of the PSL Playing Conditions”. Under the regulations, a Level 3 offense carries a minimum suspension of one game and a maximum suspension of two games. The incident occurred in the closing stages of the match against Karachi Kings when the on-field umpires punished Lahore Qalandars by conceding five runs to the opposition. The ball was also replaced before the final over. The complaint was made by umpires Shahid Saikat and Faisal Khan Aafreedi along with TV umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Tariq Rasheed. Fakhar denied the allegations and opted for a formal hearing where he presented his case in the presence of team officials, including captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, team director Sameen Rana and manager Farooq Anwar. With the committee’s decision now final and binding, Fakhar will miss the upcoming matches of Lahore Qalandars against Multan Sultans on April 3 in Lahore and Islamabad United on April 9 in Karachi.
