Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez backed the decision made by match officials following a ball tampering controversy during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings.
Reacting to the incident in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hafeez praised the officials’ handling of the situation and supported their decision.
“Well done to on-field umpire Faisal Afridi and third umpire Asif Yaqoob. Praiseworthy act,” Hafeez wrote. “Spirit of the game should remain high always.”
Well done to on field umpire Faisal Afridi & 3rd umpire Asif Yaqoob. Praiseworthy act 👏🏼. Spirit of the game should remain high always. #PSL11
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) March 31, 2026
The high-intensity match, played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, came under scrutiny after on-field umpires reported that the condition of the ball had been altered.
The incident took place just before the final over of Karachi Kings’ run chase. Match officials, including Faisal Afridi and Sharfuddoula, inspected the ball and ruled that it had been tampered with, resulting in a five-run penalty against Lahore Qalandars.
The penalty reduced the target from 14 runs to nine in the final over. Karachi Kings, the 2020 champions, successfully chased the revised target with three balls to spare.
Following the match, Fakhar Zaman was called for a hearing by match referee Roshan Mahnama. Although Fakhar denied the allegation, he was found guilty of a Level 3 offense under Article 2.14 of the Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.
He was subsequently handed a two-match ban after the referee reviewed the evidence and conducted a personal hearing.
Fakhar’s suspension is a setback for Lahore Qalandars in the ongoing tournament. The defending champions, currently third in the standings with two points from two matches, will now face Multan Sultans and Islamabad United without him.
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