PSL 2026: Fakhar Zaman's ball-tampering ban appeal dismissed by PCB

By Gaurav Tripathi

Apr 03, 2026 08:59 am

What's the story

Fakhar Zaman, a key player for Lahore Qalandars, has lost his appeal against a two-match suspension for ball tampering. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the decision on Thursday. The ruling was made by the PSL Technical Committee after upholding the punishment imposed by match referee Roshan Mahanama. This was Fakhar's first Level 3 offense of the ongoing season.

Committee's decision

'Dismissed the appeal and upheld the 2-match ban'

The PCB issued an official statement saying, "After reviewing all evidence and hearing submissions from relevant individuals, the committee has dismissed the appeal and upheld the two-match ban." It further added that In accordance with the Code of Conduct, any decision made by the PSL Technical Committee shall be the full, final and complete disposition of the matter and will be binding on all parties, as per PSL code of conduct.

Article breach

What is Level 3 offense?

Fakhar was found guilty of breaching Article 41.3 of the PSL playing conditions, which deals with changing the condition of the ball to gain an unfair advantage during a match. A Level 3 offense usually results in a suspension from one to two matches for first-time offenders. The match referee imposed the maximum penalty after a hearing where Fakhar had contested the charge.

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Match details

What transpired during the match?

The incident that led to Fakhar's suspension happened during Lahore Qalandars's four-wicket defeat against Karachi Kings. With Karachi needing 14 runs for victory, Fakhar was seen talking with fast bowler Haris Rauf and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi near the top of the run-up. During this exchange, the ball passed through multiple hands, catching the attention of on-field officials.

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Ball inspection

How did it affect the game?

Umpire Faisal Afridi requested the ball from Rauf and inspected it, followed by a lengthy discussion with second on-field umpire Sharfuddoula. The officials concluded that the condition of the ball had been deliberately altered. Consequently, they awarded Karachi five penalty runs and replaced the ball before the final over commenced. This penalty proved crucial in shaping the outcome of the match.

Appeal outcome

Here are the upcoming matches Fakhar will miss

Fakhar's appeal was heard by the PSL Technical Committee comprising Professor Javed Malik, Dr. Mumraiz Naqshband and Syed Ali Naqi. After conducting a de novo inquiry, reviewing all available evidence and hearing submissions from the relevant parties, the committee decided to reject the appeal and uphold the original sanction. This means that Fakhar will miss Lahore Qalandars's upcoming matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 and Islamabad United on April 9.

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