Lahore Qalandars were penalised for ball tampering, gifting Karachi Kings crucial runs before Abbas Afridi sealed a dramatic four wicket win.
The Pakistan Super League continues to grab attention for all the wrong reasons. The build-up to PSL 2026 was already marred by several international stars withdrawing from the tournament. Then, the opening match raised eyebrows when the match ball bizarrely turned red mid-game. Now, the latest controversy has added to the embarrassment, with Lahore Qalandars penalised for ball tampering.
During their PSL 2026 clash against Karachi Kings on Sunday night, several Lahore Qalandars players – including Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, and Haris Rauf – gathered just before the start of the 20th over. Each of them appeared to handle the ball, all under the close watch of the on-field umpire.
After Zaman handed the ball to Rauf, the umpire intervened and asked for it to be given to him instead. Confusion followed, and eventually, the fourth umpire was called in to bring replacement balls.
The ball’s condition was deemed to have been altered, resulting in a five-run penalty for Lahore Qalandars.
Why did Lahore Qalandars resort to ball tampering?
At that stage, Lahore Qalandars were defending 14 runs in the final over against Karachi Kings. With five wickets already down, they appeared to be in control. However, the five-run penalty reduced the target to just 9 runs off the last over, significantly easing the pressure on the chasing side.
Although Rauf dismissed Khushdil Shah with the first delivery, he lost his grip on the game soon after. He conceded 11 runs off the next two balls — including a wide — as Abbas Afridi smashed a four and a six to seal a thrilling four-wicket win for Karachi Kings.
