LAHORE: Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two Pakistan Super League matches after being found guilty of changing the condition of the ball during Lahore Qalandars’ match against Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

This was the maximum sanction for a Level 3 offence under Article 2.14 for a first offence. Match Referee Roshan Mahanama imposed the sanction following a hearing on Monday, attended by the four match officials and Lahore Qalandars’ management, during which video footage was reviewed.

The suspension means Fakhar will miss his side’s matches against Multan Sultans in Lahore on April 3 and Islamabad United in Karachi on April 9.

Fakhar, who denied the charge at the hearing on Sunday and again on Monday, has 48 hours to appeal to the Event Technical Committee against the Match Referee’s decision.

“Match Referee Roshan Mahanama conducted the disciplinary hearing and made the determination after reviewing all evidence and providing an opportunity of personal hearing to Fakhar,” the PCB said, adding: “Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Team Director Sameen Rana and Team Manager Farooq Anwar were also present.”

“Fakhar denied the offence and contested the charge at a full disciplinary hearing in accordance with the Code of Conduct,” the PCB added.

The incident occurred before the start of the 20th over of Karachi Kings’ innings, when television replays showed Fakhar handling the ball in the presence of captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. Umpire Faisal Afridi intervened, checked the condition of the ball alongside Sharfuddoula, before changing it and signalling five penalty runs.

Karachi Kings, who needed 14 runs before the incident, reached their target on the second and third deliveries of the final over when Abbas Afridi struck Haris Rauf for a four and a six.