Lahore Qalandars’ senior opener Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two matches by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after being found guilty of ball tampering during the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The decision follows his conduct in the clash against Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium.
The controversy occurred on 29 March 2026, during the final over of Karachi Kings’ innings. Umpires observed that the ball’s condition had been altered. Video footage showed Fakhar Zaman alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, handling the ball during a discussion. Upon inspection, officials confirmed the ball had been tampered with.
Under PCB’s Code of Conduct, Article 2.14 (Level-3 offence), Fakhar was found guilty. Lahore Qalandars were fined five runs, and the umpires immediately replaced the ball.
Following a hearing conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama, Fakhar Zaman was handed a two-match suspension. He denied the allegations, but the evidence presented was sufficient for PCB to take action.
The penalty had a significant impact on the match. The five-run deduction eased Karachi Kings’ chase, and Abbas Afridi’s boundary and six helped Karachi secure a four-wicket victory with three balls to spare.
Fakhar Zaman will now miss Lahore Qalandars’ crucial fixtures against Multan Sultans and Islamabad United, potentially affecting their batting line-up in these key PSL encounters.
