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Fakhar Zaman has been banned for two matches in PSL 2026 after being found guilty of a serious breach of the tournament’s Code of Conduct, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Tuesday.
Why is Fakhar Zaman to be banned?
The issue is related to ball tampering during a match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium on March 29. The incident happened towards the end of the game, when the umpires penalised Lahore Qalandars by adding five runs to Karachi’s total and also changed the ball before the final over.
Fakhar was charged by the on-field umpires Shahid Saikat and Faisal Khan Aafreedi, along with TV umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Tariq Rasheed. He did not accept the charge at first and chose to challenge it, which led to a full hearing.
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Who heard the matter?
The hearing was conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama, who reviewed all the evidence and listened to Fakhar’s side before making the final decision. During the hearing, Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, team director Sameen Rana, and manager Farooq Anwar were also present.
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Since this was a Level 3 offence, Fakhar could have been banned for one or two matches. In the end, he received the maximum punishment of a two-match suspension.
Which matches will be missed by Fakhar Zaman?
This means he will miss Lahore Qalandars’ upcoming games against Multan Sultans on April 3 in Lahore and Islamabad United on April 9 in Karachi.
Will Fakhar Zaman challenge PCB's decision?
As per PSL rules, Fakhar still has the option to appeal the decision. He can take the matter to the tournament’s Technical Committee within 48 hours of receiving the official verdict.
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