Mohsin Naqvi To Ban Fakhar Zaman For PSL Ball Tampering? Official Verdict Issued

Mohsin Naqvi could ban Fakhar Zaman [Source: AFP]

In a significant development, serious charges were levelled against Fakhar Zaman, as the batter was found guilty of ball-tampering in the PSL 2026. The infamous incident happened during Lahore Qalandars' most recent encounter against Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium. 

After the match concluded, match referee Roshan Mahanama found Fakhar Zaman guilty of ball-tampering and levelled serious charges against the veteran cricketer. The development was confirmed by the PCB, led by Mohsin Naqvi, through an official press release. 

Fakhar Zaman lands in trouble for ball-tampering in PSL 2026

The incident occurred during the second half of the Lahore Qalandars Vs Karachi Kings PSL 2026 match. Chasing a paltry total of 129 runs, the Kings found themselves in troubled waters when they lost their fifth wicket with just 88 on the board. 

As the match headed towards a nail-biting finish after multiple twists and turns, three players from the Lahore Qalandars- Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman were spotted in a suspicious situation. 

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During the conversation, experienced batter Fakhar Zaman was seen altering the condition of the ball, an incident that didn't go unnoticed by the on-field umpires. As a result, Lahore Qalandars were slapped with five penalty runs, with Karachi Kings comfortably easing past the target in the final over. 

Mohsin Naqvi's PCB issues statement on PSL ball tampering ft. Fakhar Zaman

After the match concluded, the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB issued an official statement on the scandalous incident involving one of Pakistan's most celebrated cricketers. 

The match referee, Roshan Mahanama, found Fakhar guilty of breaching Article 2.14 of the applicable Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, for violating Article 41.3 of the PSL playing conditions. 

Article 2.14 of the Code of Conduct prohibits the players from altering the condition of the ball, and an act of breaching the this article is considered a punishable offence. 

Having said that, Fakhar denied the charges levelled against him, and as a result, another hearing will be held within the next 48 hours to decide the further course of action. 

Will Fakhar Zaman be banned in PSL 2026?

The match referee has charged Fakhar Zaman with a level 3 offence for breaching Article 2.14 of the Code of Conduct for players and player support personnel. Such a serious offence might land Fakhar in severe trouble, as he might be banned from some games in the ongoing PSL season. 

The minimum punishment for a level 3 offence is a one-match ban in the PSL. Therefore, if the match referee sustains his verdict after the second hearing, the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB could ban Fakhar Zaman for 1-2 matches in the PSL 2026. 

Lahore Qalandars suffer 1st defeat in PSL 2026

Meanwhile, the forgettable outing against Karachi Kings marked Lahore Qalandars' first defeat in the ongoing PSL season. Batting first, the Qalandars huffed and puffed to a meagre 128-run total, riding on useful contributions from Abdullah Shafique and Haseebullah. 

In response, the Kings edged past their opponents in the very last over, chasing down the target with just three balls to spare. Led by Shaheen, the Qalandars will take on Multan Sultans in their third group-stage fixture on April 3. 

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