Fakhar Zaman could face a ban if found guilty for ball tampering in the PSL 2026 match between Lahore and Karachi. (X)
Fakhar Zaman is facing the prospect of being banned for at least one match after he was charged for ball tampering in Lahore Qalanders match against Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League on Sunday. According to reports, the left-handed batsman has been accused of changing the condition of the ball during the match which Lahore lost.
The incident happened before the start of the the final over of the chase with Karachi needing 14 off the final over. At that point, television footages showed Fakhar, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf indulging in a conversation with the ball changing hands swiftly. Umpire Faisal Afridi, who was watching the interaction, immediately asked for the ball. And after a chat with the other on-field umpire Sharfuddoula awarded five runs to Karachi as they found Lahore had changed the condition of the ball. And as per protocols, they changed the ball, and Afridi walked away unhappy. In the post match interaction, when asked about the ball-tampering episode, Afridi said, “We will see. I don’t know about this and we will see if there is in the camera and discuss what it is. Actually five runs were taken and we can’t do anything.”
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And hours later, the PCB has initiated action against Fakhar who first passed on the ball to Afridi. The batsman has been charged with a Level 3 offence which carries a minimum ban of one match and a maximum of two for a first-time violation. And since he has been charged, match referee Roshan Mahanama would conduct a hearing in the next couple of days, where Fakhar can contest the charge.
Lahore all-rounder Sikandar Raza also reacted to the controversy at the post-match presentation, saying he didn’t do anything to change the condition of the ball. “You have to ask the umpires why they changed the ball. When we asked them why they changed the ball, they told us to go away. When they were making the decision, the umpires requested us, even the captain, to go back to the fielding positions,” said Raza.
“I can only speak about myself. There was never any attempt on my part to change the condition of the ball, or even to try. All I remember is that when I was trying to dry the ball and make it shine, the umpires asked us not to dry it under the shirt. Who they are accusing, unless we don’t see the proof, I think it’s a big decision. I have not been called for an enquiry,” he added.
Though no video evidence has come out which clearly shows that Fakhar has changed the condition of the ball, former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal said umpires would have found good reasons to penalise. “If there’s evidence, we will definitely see and talk about it. Maybe, it can be something more to it. Rules have changed now. The umpires first give a warning, and if it doesn’t stop, they change the ball. If the umpire thinks that the ball’s condition has been changed, he can give the five-run penalty,” he said.
Another former player Basit Ali sounded cautious saying the ongoing construction work at the Gadaffi stadium could have played a role as well. “You can’t prove ball tampering unless you have video evidence, of someone scratching the ball or applying sandpaper on it. When Australian cricketers were caught in South Africa, there was video evidence. There has been a lot of construction and cement work at Gaddafi Stadium and when the ball hits such structures, its shape is affected. One doesn’t need to allege that someone has used his nails or sandpaper on the ball. It’s necessary to give evidence. The umpires, who have applied the five-run penalty, have to prove that in their match report. They are both ICC panel umpires. If an umpire doesn’t like a certain player, he can say that he has done something,” he said.
Meanwhile, former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq drew parallel with the infamous Oval Test incident in 2006 when Pakistan were penalised five runs by Australian umpire Darrell Hair and subsequently refused to take the field which resulted in ICC ruling they forfeited the match. “We have suffered in the past in the Darrel Hair incident. The umpire saw the ball himself, it was swinging. It’s solely the decision of the umpires; the players or captain have no say in this matter. It’s not right,” Razzaq said.
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