Pakistan international Fakhar Zaman has been handed a two-match suspension in the Pakistan Super League after being found guilty of ball tampering during a recent match.
The disciplinary action followed an incident during a game between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings on Sunday. Match officials ruled that the condition of the ball had been unfairly altered shortly before the final over, prompting umpires to award the batting side five penalty runs.
Karachi required 14 runs to win when the penalty was imposed, significantly impacting the closing stages of the match.
PCB disciplinary hearing confirms punishment
The case was reviewed by the Pakistan Cricket Board, which charged Fakhar under the league’s code of conduct. According to the PCB, the 35-year-old denied the allegations and contested the charge during a full disciplinary hearing.
Match referee Roshan Mahanama presided over the proceedings and reviewed all available evidence before confirming the sanction. Following the hearing, the PCB announced that Fakhar would miss the Qalandars’ next two PSL matches.
The board also confirmed that the player has the right to appeal the decision within 48 hours.
Laws prohibit altering the ball’s condition
Under the laws of cricket, players are prohibited from deliberately changing the condition of the ball, except for polishing it on their clothing to maintain shine. Any other attempt to alter the surface is considered ball tampering and carries disciplinary consequences.
Law 41.3.2 specifically states that any action taken to unfairly change the ball’s condition is an offence.
Fakhar, who made his international debut for Pakistan in 2017, has represented his country in multiple formats and remains one of the experienced players in the PSL circuit.
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