New Delhi: There is a crisis in Pakistan cricket. The ball-tampering scandal During the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, a big controversy arose, the captain was replaced. Shaheen Afridithe opener Fakhr Zaman And fast bowler Haris Rauf is under investigation.The incident happened in the last over of the match, Karachi Kings needed 14 runs off six balls.Haris Rauf was ready to bowl the last over, and just before it started, Afridi and Fakhar joined him for a brief chat to work out a plan.What raised eyebrows was that Fakhar appeared to be caught on camera changing the ball.The on-field umpire Faisal Afridi then called the ball, inspected it and had a lengthy discussion with fellow Bangladesh umpire Sharaf ud Daulah.After deliberations, the umpires concluded that the ball had been deliberately altered and Karachi Kings were awarded five penalty runs, reducing the target to nine runs off six balls. The ball was also changed.Lahore Qalandars eventually lost the match by four wickets.‘The umpires should be on the ne bola side’After the match, Lahore Qalandars sent their overseas player Sikandar Raza to address the media at the post-match press conference, where questions about the controversy were inevitable.“I was told by the umpires that you will be on the sidelines because they were talking to the third umpire. The real reason will be with them. If you want a clear answer, you have to ask the umpires who had walkie-talkies or ask the third umpire that it is never. We were asked to surf so much that you guys were digging in your field positions, and the captain was also told this,” Raza said.“I can only speak for myself — there was never any intention on my part to change the condition of the ball, not even to try. I remember trying to shine the ball or trying to dry it a bit, especially near the boundary rope where it was a bit dewy. So it was just said not to try to dry the ball inside the shirt, so we started doing it with the sleeve.“Now with the clips that are playing and the allegations that are being made, until there is proper evidence, I think it is a big decision to say something like that. I have just been in the changing room, and I can guarantee that I have not gone for an enquiry.”Fakhir refuses. Ball tampering ChargesStar opener Fakhar Zaman was on Sunday charged by match referee Roshan Mahanama for a Level 3 offense under Article 2.14 of the PSL Code of Conduct against the players and player support personnel. They were found to be in breach of Article 41.3 of the PSL’s Playing Conditions, which prohibits any act which alters the condition of the ball.Appearing before the former Sri Lankan cricketer, Zaman denied the allegations leveled against him.The match referee is expected to hold another hearing in the next 48 hours before making a decision.If convicted, Zaman — and possibly Lahore Qalandars as a team — could face heavy fines.
