Former Pakistan players have taken a hard line on Fakhar Zaman after the batter was linked to a ball-tampering controversy during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) game. Alongside Fakhar, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi and fast bowler Haris Rauf were also criticised for their involvement in the incident that briefly swallowed attention across the league.
Controversy sparks sharp criticism
The episode came during a PSL encounter between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, with Fakhar emerging as the most prominent name in the backlash. Former players Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal both argued that responsibility should not be limited to one individual, pointing to the captain and the bowler as well.
What Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal said
Speaking on live television, Basit Ali suggested that Fakhar would face a heavy financial punishment now that the matter had been backed by evidence.
- Basit Ali said, “It’s over for Fakhar Zaman.” He added that once the evidence surfaced, he was confident Fakhar would be fined a significant amount.
- Kamran Akmal stressed that the punishment should extend beyond Fakhar, saying that the captain and Haris Rauf should also be held accountable. He noted that leadership brings responsibility, and therefore Shaheen Afridi’s role could not be ignored.
Kamran’s message was clear: punishment is expected, and it should cover Fakhar as well as the captain and the fast bowler, because the captain is expected to ensure proper conduct.
PSL ball-tampering: sequence of events
The incident unfolded in the closing phase of the match. Lahore Qalandars’ fast bowler Haris Rauf was ready to deliver the final over, with Karachi Kings needing 14 runs to win.
Final over discussion and the moment that drew attention
- As Rauf prepared his run-up, captain Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar Zaman joined him for a short discussion about the plan for the last set of deliveries.
- Television replays drew scrutiny as Fakhar appeared to tamper with the ball, while Shaheen was seen smiling beside him.
Umpires inspect the ball and adjust the match
- On-field umpire Faisal Afridi requested the ball, inspected it, and then held an extended discussion with Sharfuddoula, a fellow official from Bangladesh.
- After deliberation, the umpires decided the ball had been deliberately altered.
- As a result, Karachi were awarded five penalty runs, cutting the requirement to nine runs from the last six balls.
- The ball was also replaced following the ruling.
Result: Lahore Qalandars fall short
Despite the altered target and the late-stage intervention, Lahore Qalandars were unable to defend successfully. They eventually lost the PSL match to Karachi Kings by four wickets.
