Fakhar Zaman Faces Suspension for Ball-Tampering in PSL
Fakhar Zaman's Suspension
Fakhar Zaman, a prominent cricketer from Pakistan, has been found guilty of ball-tampering during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). Despite his denial of the charges, he has received a significant penalty following a hearing conducted by the match referee after the match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The incident took place just before the 20th over when Karachi required 14 runs. Cameras captured Fakhar manipulating the ball before passing it to Haris Rauf. The umpire subsequently requested the ball from Rauf, and upon inspection, the match officials determined that the ball's condition had been altered, resulting in a five-run penalty against the Qalandars, which reduced their target to nine runs. Ultimately, the team lost the match.
As a consequence, Fakhar has been suspended for two matches, missing out on the upcoming games against Multan Sultans and Islamabad United. PCB Statement - Full Text The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two HBL PSL matches after being found guilty of a Level 3 offence for violating Article 2.14 of the Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during the match on March 29 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The incident occurred in the final moments of the game when the umpires penalized Lahore Qalandars with five runs and changed the ball before the last over of Karachi Kings’ innings. The on-field umpires, including Shahid Saikat and Faisal Khan Aafreedi, along with TV Umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth Umpire Tariq Rasheed, leveled the charge. Fakhar contested the charge at a full disciplinary hearing led by Match Referee Roshan Mahanama, who reviewed all evidence and allowed Fakhar a chance for a personal hearing. Lahore Qalandars' Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Team Director Sameen Rana, and Team Manager Farooq Anwar were present during the hearing. The Qalandars are set to play against Multan Sultans on April 3 and Islamabad United on April 9.
Fakhar Zaman - A History of Offences?
Reports suggest that Fakhar Zaman may have a history of similar offences. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the USA team lodged a complaint against him following a T20 World Cup match in 2024, where he was observed shining the ball in a manner akin to the recent incident. Although this was noted by USA captain Mohank Patel in his official report, the ICC did not take any action.
Recent Actions Against Pakistan Players
The Pakistan Cricket Board has recently imposed strict measures against senior players. Naseem Shah was fined PKR 20 million (approximately ₹67 lakhs) for a social media post targeting politician Maryam Nawaz. Additionally, Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was fined PKR 1 million (around ₹3.39 lakhs) for a security breach at the team hotel.