Fakhar Zaman, a prominent figure in Pakistan's cricket scene, has received a two-match suspension after being adjudged guilty of ball tampering in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the suspension in a statement released on Tuesday, citing that Zaman had committed a Level 3 offence related to altering the condition of the cricket ball.
The incident occurred during the Lahore Qalandars' match against Karachi Kings, where video evidence captured the 35-year-old opener in the act of tampering with the ball.
Following a disciplinary hearing presided over by match referee Roshan Mahanama from Sri Lanka, charges were brought against Zaman, who contested the allegations of ball tampering. The hearing involved scrutiny of television footage that depicted Zaman alongside team captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and fellow bowler Haris Rauf, as well as umpire Faisal Afridi, examining the ball's condition.
In light of these events, five penalty runs were assigned to the Qalandars, who ultimately suffered a loss to the Kings by four wickets. Additional repercussions included a fine of $3,500 levied against Shaheen Afridi for violating the tournament's strict security measures.
This edition of the PSL is being conducted without spectators and is limited to only two venues, as opposed to the usual six, amid fuel supply issues attributed to the conflict in Iran. Shaheen Afridi has also faced penalties from the Qalandars for security breaches at the team's accommodation in Lahore, one of the two host cities along with Karachi for the tournament this year.
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