Lahore Qalandars penalized for ball tampering in Pakistan Super League match against Karachi Kings
Prior to the final over of the match, Karachi Kings were awarded five penalty runs for ball tampering, with Lahore Qalandars’ Fakhar Zaman accused of unfairly changing the condition of the ball, a claim he denies.
The ball was swapped out at the request of the batting side, and Karachi Kings secured victory with three balls to spare, needing only nine runs from six balls.
Fakhar Zaman, a 35-year-old Pakistan international with 215 matches under his belt, has denied the allegations of ball tampering and awaits further hearing.
Cricket regulations strictly prohibit players from altering the condition of the ball, except for shining it, as outlined in Law 41.3.2.
The Pakistan Super League’s playing conditions dictate that umpires will report such incidents to the match referee, who will then take appropriate action against the players involved.
David Warner, who received a 12-month ban from Cricket Australia for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal of 2018, was leading Karachi Kings in this match.
In response to the incident, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi expressed uncertainty, stating, “We will review the footage and discuss the matter.”
Queries for comments have been directed to the Pakistan Super League and the Pakistan Cricket Board.
