Fakhar Zaman of Lahore Qalandars has been suspended for two matches in the Pakistan Super League after being found guilty of ball-tampering. The decision came after an incident during Sunday’s match against Karachi Kings, which Karachi won by four wickets.
The controversy arose when Zaman, along with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, handled the ball during a discussion at the top of the bowler’s run-up as Karachi needed 14 runs to win in the final over. Umpires determined the ball had been deliberately altered.
As a result, five penalty runs were awarded to Karachi Kings, reducing the target to nine runs off six balls. The umpires also replaced the ball. Zaman denied wrongdoing, but match referee Roshan Mahanama issued the maximum suspension for the Level 3 offense. He has the option to appeal the decision.