Pakistan’s top batter, Fakhar Zaman, is under scrutiny as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) investigates him for alleged ball-tampering.
The star player has been accused of tampering with the ball during a recent PSL match, raising the possibility of disciplinary action.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the incident occurred in the final over of the match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings on Sunday, when Karachi needed 14 runs to win.
During this period, Fakhar Zaman, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, and fast bowler Haris Rauf had a brief conversation, after which the ball was exchanged.
According to media reports, match referee Roshan Mahanama summoned Fakhar Zaman for a re-hearing, during which he again refused to admit the allegations.
The match referee has reserved his decision after hearing Fakhar Zaman’s position, while the PCB is expected to announce the verdict soon. It is worth mentioning that, if found guilty, Fakhar Zaman could face a ban of one or two matches.
What happened in Karachi, Qalandars match?
An interesting situation had arisen during the PSL 11 match when the umpire awarded Karachi Kings a five penalty runs against Lahore Qalandars after being dissatisfied with the condition of the ball during Karachi Kings’ innings, as it appeared to have been tampered with.
The Lahore Qalandars found themselves at the centre of a ball condition-changing controversy after being penalised five runs for allegedly altering the condition of the ball during the final over of their match against the Karachi Kings. The Kings ultimately secured victory with three balls to spare.
The incident unfolded after 19 overs of the second innings, when the Kings required 14 runs to win with Haris Rauf set to bowl the final over for the Qalandars. Shaheen Afridi, Rauf and Fakhar Zaman briefly gathered near the bowler’s run-up, each handling the ball at some point. Umpire Faisal Afridi closely observed the interaction and immediately called for a ball inspection.
However, Karachi Kings defeated Lahore Qalandars by four wickets in a thrilling match of PSL 11. In the high-profile game played in Lahore, Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi won the toss and chose to bat first.
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