The Pakistan Super League is reeling from allegations of ball-tampering during Sunday’s game against Zaman.
Published March 30, 2026
Lahore Qalandars batsman Fakhar Zaman has been charged with ball-tampering during Sunday’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Karachi Kings, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
The incident occurred in the final over, with Karachi needing 14 runs to win. Fakhar, Lahore captain Shaheen Afridi and fast bowler Haris Rauf took part in a short discussion during which a ball was passed between Fakhar and Rauf.
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The referee then approached Rauch and asked to see the ball. After consultation with the square leg umpire, the umpire awarded Karachi five penalty runs and ordered the ball to be changed.
The penalty proved costly as Karachi remained chasing a target of 129 with three balls remaining and Abbas Afridi hit a four and a six to seal a four-wicket win.
“Mr. Fakhar denied the charges leveled against him at a disciplinary hearing led by match referee Roshan Mahanama,” the PCB said.
“There will be another hearing within the next 48 hours, after which the match referee will announce the verdict.”
Mr Afridi said he would review video footage of the incident.
“I don’t know about this, but I’ll see if it’s on camera and we’ll talk about it,” he said during the postgame presentation ceremony.
Fakhar, 35, could face a one- or two-game ban if found guilty of ball-tampering, his first offense in the PSL.
Australian trio David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were handed long-term bans by Cricket Australia following a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018.
