The Pakistan Super League has been rocked by a major controversy involving Fakhar Zaman, who has now been suspended for two matches after being found guilty of breaching the code of conduct.
The incident took place during a tense clash between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings. In the final over of the match, with Karachi needing 14 runs to win, Fakhar was seen in a brief discussion with captain Shaheen Afridi and fast bowler Haris Rauf.
During this moment, Fakhar and Haris Rauf exchanged the ball between them, which raised suspicions among the on-field umpires. The officials quickly intervened and asked to inspect the ball. After consulting with the square-leg umpire, they decided to penalize Lahore by awarding five extra runs to Karachi and ordered the ball to be replaced.
The decision proved to be a turning point in the match. Karachi Kings successfully chased down the 129-run target with three balls remaining, sealing a four-wicket victory thanks to a late flourish from Abbas Afridi.
Following the match, the Pakistan Cricket Board launched an investigation into the incident. Fakhar Zaman denied any wrongdoing during the initial hearing, maintaining that no illegal action had taken place.
However, after a formal disciplinary process, Fakhar was charged with a Level 3 offence under Article 2.14 of the PCB Code of Conduct. The hearing was overseen by match referee Roshan Mahanama, with team officials also present.
After reviewing the evidence, the referee found Fakhar guilty of breaching the rules, resulting in a two-match suspension in the ongoing PSL season.
The case has once again highlighted the strict stance cricket authorities take against ball tampering, an offence that has historically led to serious consequences in the sport.
