Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza have denied any wrongdoing amid the probe into the ball-tampering charges, levelled against Zaman after an incident during the Pakistan Super League match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Zaman, 35, was charged on Sunday night by match referee Roshan Mahanama with a Level 3 offence under Article 2.14 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel after he was caught on camera trying to change the condition of the ball.
The veteran batter was accused of violating Article 41.3 of the PSL playing conditions, which disallows any action that alters the condition of the ball.
However, Zaman denied the charges during a hearing with the former Sri Lankan cricketer.
The incident that has put the Zaman under scanner happened just before the final over of the Karachi Kings’ innings, when they needed 14 runs to win.
Just before the over began, Zaman, during a discussion with Haris Rauf and Qalandars’ captain Afridi, appeared to scratch the ball before handing it back to the bowler.
Minutes later, umpire Faisal Afridi requested the ball and, after inspecting it with his colleague, determined that the condition had been altered.
Another hearing within the next 48 hours is expected before the match referee delivers the verdict.
🚨LIVE BALL TAMPERING IN PSL 🚨
– 14 Runs needed in 6 balls, Then here comes the Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman with their mischievous mind, They tampered the ball with their Nails. 🤯
Haris Rauf kept on watching and Supporting them on live.🤮pic.twitter.com/mRs6gn2KY5
— Sam (@Cricsam01) March 30, 2026
The umpires penalised Lahore five runs for the offence. The ball was subsequently replaced. Needing nine runs in the final over, Karachi Kings successfully chased down the target.
If the match referee confirms the ball-tampering charges, Zaman, and potentially the Lahore Qalandars, could face serious penalties.
Shaheen Afridi & Sikandar Raza respond to ball-tampering allegations
When asked about the incident, Afridi stated that he didn’t know anything about the condition of the ball being changed.
“I don’t know if the condition of the ball changed. But it was disappointing to see the umpire’s decision,” he said.
The Lahore skipper will also appear before Mahanama for a disciplinary hearing.
Meanwhile, Raza, who is already in trouble for breaching the security protocols of the PSL at the team hotel by bringing relatives to his room, also denied having any knowledge of the incident.
“I don’t know if the ball was tampered with or who did it. I am not aware of it,” he said at a post-match conference.
As per a PCB source, senior officials have taken note of the ball tampering incident and the breach of security protocols and have warned Qalandars’ management of serious consequences under the applicable code of conduct rules and regulations.
“Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is not happy in particular about the hotel incident since the PCB is taking great care to ensure the event is held without an incident and has even disallowed spectators for the league matches at the Gaddafi stadium for the time being,” the source said.
The source also added that PCB is unhappy about PSL gaining negative traction due to such incidents, which began with the white ball turning pink during the first match of the league between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Lahore, when the sub-standard jerseys shed colour, which discoloured the ball.