The 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) has been hit by controversy after Lahore Qalandars batter Fakhar Zaman was handed a two-match ban following allegations of ball tampering during a recent match against Karachi Kings.
According to reports, suspicion around Fakhar Zaman’s actions emerged during the 13th and 14th overs, when members of the opposition team raised concerns over his handling of the ball.
Karachi Kings management then alleged that Fakhar was interacting with the ball in a questionable manner and formally reported the matter to the match referee. In response, the referee instructed on-field umpires via walkie-talkie to closely monitor the player.
Umpires intensified their observation after the 14th over and during this period noted that Fakhar Zaman appeared to have something in his pocket, which further raised suspicion.
Before the start of the 20th over, on-field umpire Faisal Afridi conducted a ball inspection. Officials identified visible irregularities, including a section where the ball had completely lost its color. Umpires suspected that the ball had been rubbed against a rough surface.
During the match, the ball was replaced and five penalty runs were awarded to Karachi Kings after concerns were raised about its condition. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Karachi Kings management did not capture any photo or video evidence of the incident.
Later, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took disciplinary action against Fakhar Zaman, imposing a two-match suspension in PSL 11 after finding him guilty of a Level 3 breach of the Code of Conduct.
Fakhar Zaman challenged the decision by filing an appeal, denying the allegations and seeking a review of the ruling. However, the PSL Technical Committee rejected the appeal and upheld the ban, stating that the decision is final under the league’s Code of Conduct.
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