Fakhar Zaman Challenges Two-Match Ban For Ball-tampering In Pakistan Super League

Veteran Pakistan player Fakhar Zaman was on Tuesday suspended for two matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for breaching the code of conduct pertaining to altering the condition of the ball. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the match referee found Fakhar guilty of a Level 3 offence, breaching Article 2.14 of the applicable Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during the PSL match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings here on Sunday.

According to a report in Geo News, quoting sources, “Fakhar Zaman has challenged his two-match suspension over ball-tampering charges during his side’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Karachi Kings.”

The suspected ball-tampering incident occurred just before the start of the final over, when the on-field umpires penalised Lahore Qalandars five runs and changed the ball before the last over of Karachi Kings’ batting innings.

On-field umpires Shahid Saikat and Faisal Khan Aafreedi, TV umpire Asif Yaqoob, and fourth umpire Tariq Rasheed levelled the charge.

Fakhar denied the offence and contested the charge at a full disciplinary hearing in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Match referee Roshan Mahanama conducted the disciplinary hearing and made the determination after reviewing all evidence and providing an opportunity for a personal hearing to Fakhar.

Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, team director Sameen Rana, and team manager Farooq Anwar were also present during the hearing.

Lahore Qalandars are next scheduled to face Multan Sultans on April 3 at the Gaddafi Stadium and Islamabad United on April 9 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.

Meanwhile, the Lahore Qalandars management has fined captain Shaheen Shah Afridi one million rupees for breaching the PSL’s security protocol at the team hotel in Lahore.

On Monday, the PCB’s disciplinary committee fined fast bowler Naseem Shah 20 million rupees for a controversial tweet that breached the conditions of his central contract with the board