Fakhar Zaman charged Level 3 in ball-tampering probe during PSL match

Pakistan cricket has been thrown into fresh controversy after Lahore Qalandars batter Fakhar Zaman was hit with a Level 3 charge over a suspected ball-tampering breach during a Pakistan Super League match. The allegation centres on whether Zaman violated rules that bar any attempt to change the condition of the ball, with a disciplinary process now under way that could bring further consequences for both the player and the franchise.

Disciplinary charge and hearing timeline

1. Zaman has been charged with a Level 3 offence under Article 2.14 of the Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.
2. The charge is linked to a possible breach of Article 41.3 of the playing conditions, which prohibits actions that alter the ball’s condition.
3. Zaman denied the accusation during a hearing conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama.
4. A further hearing has been scheduled within the next 48 hours, after which the referee will issue a formal decision.

What happened during the PSL match

1. The incident took place in the second innings of the match on Sunday.
2. It was connected to a moment just before the last over of Karachi Kings’ innings, when they required 14 runs to win.
3. Zaman was seen discussing the situation with Haris Rauf and Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi prior to the final over.
4. Umpire Faisal Afridi then asked for the ball, and after examining it together with a fellow official, concluded that its condition had been altered.
5. As a result, the punishment reduced Karachi’s target to nine runs off the final over instead of 14.
6. That shift in pressure swung momentum towards the Kings, with Abbas Afridi hitting back-to-back boundaries on the second and third deliveries of the over.
7. Karachi ultimately clinched a dramatic four-wicket win, finishing the chase in the final over after the revised target.

Shaheen’s reaction and potential next steps

In the aftermath of the match, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi admitted he was not aware of the specific charge at the time of the incident, while also expressing disappointment with the decision. “I don’t know about this [ball tampering], and we’ll discuss. Five runs penalty…but we can’t say anything. We will see,” Shaheen said during the post-match presentation.

If the charge against Zaman is upheld, he—and potentially Lahore Qalandars as well—could be subject to additional disciplinary action stemming from the same incident.