Pakistan Board Charges Fakhar Zaman with Ball-Tampering in PSL

Pakistan Super League Match Marred by Ball-Tampering Allegation

A controversy has erupted in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after Lahore Qalandars batter Fakhar Zaman was accused of ball-tampering during a match against Karachi Kings on Sunday. The incident occurred in the final over, with Karachi needing 14 runs to win.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Fakhar, along with Lahore captain Shaheen Afridi and fast bowler Haris Rauf, engaged in a brief discussion involving the passing of the ball between them. The umpire then approached Rauf and requested to see the ball, leading to consultations with the square-leg umpire. As a result, five penalty runs were awarded to Karachi, and the ball was ordered to be changed.

Fakhar denied the charge during a disciplinary hearing led by match referee Roshan Mahanama. A further hearing is scheduled within the next 48 hours, after which the match referee will share his verdict.

Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi stated that they would review video footage of the incident to determine its validity. The PCB has confirmed that Fakhar could face a ban of one or two matches if found guilty of ball tampering for the first time in the PSL.

It is worth noting that similar incidents have occurred in other professional cricket leagues, with Australian players David Warner, Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft receiving lengthy bans following a 2018 scandal in South Africa.

Source: Al Jazeera