NEW DELHI: Pakistan cricket has been rocked by a ball-tampering scandal in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The major controversy erupted during the match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, putting captain Shaheen Afridi, opener Fakhar Zaman and fast bowler Haris Rauf under the scanner.The incident occurred in the final over of the match, with Karachi Kings needing 14 runs off six balls.Haris Rauf was set to bowl the last over, and just before it began, Afridi and Fakhar joined him for a brief discussion to chalk out a plan.What raised eyebrows was Fakhar appearing to be caught on camera altering the ball.On-field umpire Faisal Afridi then called for the ball, inspected it, and held a lengthy discussion with fellow umpire Sharfuddoula of Bangladesh.After deliberation, the umpires concluded that the ball had been deliberately altered and awarded five penalty runs to Karachi Kings, reducing the target to nine runs off six balls. The ball was also changed.Lahore Qalandars eventually lost the match by four wickets.‘UMPIRES NE BOLA SIDE MEIN HO JAAYEIN’After the game, Lahore Qalandars sent their overseas player Sikandar Raza to address the media in the post-match press conference, where questions around the controversy were inevitable.“The umpires told us that you are on your side because they were talking with the third umpire. The exact reason for this will be available to them. If you want a clear answer, you’ll have to ask the umpires who have walkie-talkies and then you can ask the third umpire. They simply said that you are on their side. The only request we made was that you log You were sitting on your field positions, and the captain was also told here,” Raza said.“I can only speak for myself — I never had any intention of changing the condition of the ball, not even to try. I remember I was trying to shine the ball or try to dry it a little, especially near the boundary ropes where there was a little dew. Main long-on was there and there was a little dew, so I just said don’t try to dry the ball under the shirt. So we started doing it with the sleeves,” he said.“Now that the clips are running and the allegations are being made, when proper proof has not come, I think it’s a big decision to say something like this. I just went to the changing room, and I can guarantee that I have not been called for any inquiry,” Raza added.FAKHAR DENIES BALL-TAMPERING CHARGESStar opener Fakhar Zaman was charged on Sunday by match referee Roshan Mahanama with a Level 3 offense under Article 2.14 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. He was found to have violated Article 41.3 of the PSL playing conditions, which prohibits any action that alters the condition of the ball.Appearing before the former Sri Lankan cricketer, Zaman denied the charges against him.The match referee is expected to hold another hearing within the next 48 hours before delivering a verdict.If the offense is confirmed, Zaman — and potentially the Lahore Qalandars as a team — could face serious penalties.