Pakistan star batter Fakhar Zaman has had his appeal rejected, confirming a two-match suspension for ball tampering in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.
The left-handed batter was penalised after the PSL encounter between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, where the match referee determined that Fakhar had deliberately altered the condition of the ball ahead of the final over. Following the ruling, the Pakistan Cricket Board imposed a two-match ban on him. Fakhar later challenged the suspension, seeking a review of the incident, but the appeal was turned down, leaving him sidelined for the next two fixtures.
The PSL’s technical committee rejected Fakhar’s appeal, the PCB announced on Thursday.
“After reviewing all evidence and hearing submissions from relevant individuals, the committee has dismissed the appeal and upheld the two-match ban,” the PCB said in an official statement. “In accordance with the Code of Conduct, any decision made by the PSL Technical Committee shall be the full, final and complete disposition of the matter and will be binding on all parties.”
The controversy unfolded in the closing moments of the match, when Lahore pacer Haris Rauf was set to bowl the final over with Karachi needing 14 runs to win.
Fakhar Zaman, Rauf and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi came together near the top of the run-up, where all three were seen handling the ball during a brief discussion. Their actions drew immediate attention from the officials. Umpire Faisal Afridi soon intervened, asking for the ball and conducting a close inspection. He then engaged in a lengthy conversation with the other on-field umpire, raising concerns over whether the ball’s condition had been unfairly altered.
Both umpires ruled that the ball had been deliberately altered and awarded 5 penalty runs to Karachi. The umpires also changed the ball. Abbas Afridi smashed a four and a six to earn a four-wicket win for Karachi in 19.3 overs.
A two-match suspension will force Fakhar to miss Lahore’s games against Multan Sultans on Friday and Islamabad United clash next week.
PSL under the scanner after series of controversies
The PSL, being played behind closed doors in Lahore and Karachi due to fuel shortages linked to the conflict in the Middle East, has faced scrutiny amid a series of disciplinary issues.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah was fined 20 million Pakistani rupees ($72,000) for a social media post that appeared to criticise Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Lahore fined Afridi about PKR 1 million after police accused him of breaching security protocols at the team hotel, an incident that also involved Zimbabwe T20 captain Sikandar Raza
