Ball Tampering in PSL: The next few hours are very important in the ball tampering case in Pakistan Super League. This is because punishment for that incident may be announced soon. At present the hearing of the case is going on. If Pakistani cricketers are found guilty for their actions then it is certain that they will be fined as well as banned. The incident of ball tampering took place in the PSL 2026 match played between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings on the evening of 29 March. After this incident, there is only discussion about it from Pakistani media to social media. Only the veteran cricketers of Pakistan are seen saying that if there is proof of ball tampering then they should be punished.
The latest update on the ball tampering incident is that Fakhar Zaman has denied the allegations against him in the first hearing held in front of match referee Roshan Mahanama. Pakistan Cricket Board has also told about this in its statement. Fakhar Zaman's denial of the allegations against him in the first hearing means that now the ball tampering case will be heard again within the next 48 hours, after which the match referee will give his decision.
If Fakhar Zaman is convicted, it will be considered a crime of at least level-3. Now the question is what will be the punishment? If any player is found guilty under Level-3, he can be banned for at least one match as punishment.
Even though Fakhar Zaman has been accused of ball tampering, some veterans of Pakistan cricket believe that Lahore Qalandars team captain Shaheen Afridi and bowler Haris Rauf are equally guilty. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal said in ARY News show that if there is proof then he should also be punished.
Basit Ali said, "It's over for Fakhar Zaman. Since the evidence has come out, I'm sure that he'll be fined a huge amount."
Kamran Akmal said, “Not only Fakhar Zaman, captain Shaheen and Haris Rauf are also responsible for this Ball Tampering. They can face a Ban as well.” pic.twitter.com/TYWAEEdj97
- Abdullah. (@Abdullahh_56) March 29, 2026
In the match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, the incident of ball tampering happened in the last over of the match, Karachi Kings needed 14 runs to win. But, before starting the last over, Shaheen, Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman started discussing something. At the same time, Fakhar took the ball in his hand and was seen doing something on it. It seemed as if he was scratching the ball with his nails. When the umpire noticed, he not only changed the ball but also imposed a penalty of 5 runs on Lahore Qalandars. The umpires took this decision because they found Lahore Qalandars guilty of ball tampering i.e. trying to change the ball from its normal position.
Ball tampering controversy!
Lahore Qalandars were penalized 5 runs vs Karachi Kings — target reduced from 14 to 9
The big question: who actually tampered with the ball?
Was it Shaheen Shah Afridi or Haris Rauf?
#IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/L9wDTlEOhD— Khan (@ccricket713) March 29, 2026
The video of the ball tampering incident that took place in PSL 2026 spread like wildfire on social media. However, when Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi was asked about this, he reacted as if nothing had happened.
SHAHEEN afridi on ball tempering:
“I dont know about this. We will see that in cameras. We will discuss it.”Totally confused and acting innocent. You are the captain of the team. Apologies from the country pic.twitter.com/fPyVjElQ9v
— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian) March 29, 2026
Well, even if Fakhar Zaman does not accept the allegations against him in front of the match referee, even if Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi acts as if he does not know anything, but pictures do not lie. They cannot hide its truth. The visuals of ball tampering from PSL 2026 clearly show that there is not only something black in the pulses but the entire pulses are black.
