Lahore Qalandars batter denies charge after umpires award five penalty runs to Karachi Kings in thriller; minimum one-match ban if found guilty.
LAHORE — Lahore Qalandars cricketer Fakhar Zaman has been charged with alleged ball tampering following a dramatic Pakistan Super League (PSL) encounter against Karachi Kings on Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed.
The incident occurred ahead of the final over of a tense thriller, with Karachi Kings needing 14 runs for victory. Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, bowler Haris Rauf, and Zaman were seen gathered at the bowler’s run-up, with all three handling the ball during their discussions—a common sight in high-pressure moments of a cricket match.
Umpire Faisal Afridi called for the ball, inspected it, and held a lengthy conversation with his on-field colleague, Sharfuddoula of Bangladesh. The umpires determined that the ball had been deliberately altered and awarded five penalty runs to Karachi, reducing the target to nine runs off the final six deliveries. The ball was also changed.
Zaman Denies Charge; Further Hearing Scheduled
Following the match, a disciplinary hearing was conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama.
“Fakhar denied the charge leveled against him during a disciplinary hearing led by the match referee Roshan Mahanama,” the PCB said in a statement.
“Another hearing is set to take place within the next 48 hours after which the match referee will share his verdict.”
If found guilty, Zaman faces a minimum punishment of a one-match ban for a Level 3 offense under the PCB’s code of conduct.
Karachi Seals Dramatic Victory
Despite the controversy, the match concluded with Karachi Kings clinching a four-wicket win. After Khushdil Shah holed out on the first ball of the final over, Haris Rauf delivered a wide before Abbas Afridi smashed a four and a six to seal victory with three balls to spare.
The incident has sparked widespread debate within cricketing circles, with discussions centering on the application of ball-tampering regulations and the role of on-field discussions in high-stakes moments.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
