Shaheen Afridi breaks silence on Fakhar Zaman ball-tampering row after Ramiz Raja’s attack

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has witnessed one of the most dramatic moments that turned into a complete controversy. Lahore Qalandars' Shaheen Afridi refused to say much on the drama after his team’s four-wicket loss to Karachi Kings in the 6th PSL 2026 match on March 29.

Shaheen Afridi, as expected, was asked about the ball-tampering issue involving his own teammate Fakhar Zaman after the match. The drama broke out in the final over of the Karachi Kings chase. Haris Rauf was handed the ball, with Karachi needing 14 runs off the last six balls.

How the alleged ball tampering scandal rocked PSL 2026

As Rauf was getting ready to bowl, Afridi and Fakhar rushed towards him to discuss the plan for those crucial six balls. But during this short meeting, cameras captured something unusual at an angle that made it look like Fakhar was doing something to the ball.

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The footage instantly raised suspicion. Within moments, on-field umpire Faisal Afridi stopped the game and demanded the ball. He closely checked it and then called the second umpire, Sharfuddoula, for a detailed inspection. Both officials examined the condition of the ball for a long time.

Umpires hand five penalty runs to Karachi after declaring the ball was tampered

After the long inspection, the umpires declared that the ball had been deliberately altered, and Karachi Kings were immediately given five penalty runs, which brought the equation down from 14 runs needed to just 9 runs off the final six deliveries.

Even the old ball was also removed and replaced with a new one, which left Lahore Qalandars completely stunned. The momentum shifted instantly, and Karachi Kings took full advantage of the situation. They calmly chased down the revised target and won the match by four wickets.

Can’t say much until we are sure: Shaheen Afridi on the controversy

This situation left Lahore frustrated and confused. After the match, the presenter Ramiz Raja asked Shaheen Afridi about the suspected ball-tampering incident. Shaheen responded carefully, saying they needed to check the footage properly before saying anything.

Shaheen Afridi said at the post-match presentation ceremony: “Actually, I don’t know much about it. We’ll have to check what exactly happened on camera. We’ll discuss what it is and see who did what, because it did hurt us badly. Actually, five runs were taken, and we can't do anything. Like, you can't say. The five penalty runs made a big difference. But right now, we can’t say much until we are sure.”

Ramiz Raja.. What a question 😂 #PSL pic.twitter.com/MD3FvFy1bX

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) March 29, 2026

Read Also: Fakhar Zaman ball-tampering scandal: Lahore Qalandars batter rejects allegations, faces PCB ban threat

Muhammad Waseem takes Karachi to victory

Speaking about the PSL 2026 game, Karachi Kings pulled off a dramatic win while chasing 129 in a tense and low-scoring clash in Lahore. The pitch was slow and sticky, yet Muhammad Waseem held the innings together with an important 38, but regular wickets made things tough for Karachi.

With 14 needed off the final over, the big controversy broke out, and the target was reduced to 9 off 6 balls. The ball was changed, and Karachi calmly finished the chase with three balls remaining. Shaheen Afridi has taken four wickets against Karachi in the clash.