LAHORE: The PSL Technical Committee has dismissed Fakhar Zaman’s appeal and upheld the two-match suspension imposed by Match Referee Roshan Mahanama for changing the condition of the ball during Lahore Qalandars’ match against Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

The Committee, comprising Prof. Javed Malik, Dr Mumraiz Naqshband and Mr Syed Ali Naqi, heard the case afresh, reviewed all the evidence and heard submissions from relevant individuals before dismissing the appeal.

The decision means Fakhar will miss Lahore Qalandars’ upcoming matches against Multan Sultans in Lahore on April 3 and Islamabad United in Karachi on April 9.

Fakhar had been handed the two-match suspension — the maximum sanction for a Level 3 offence under Article 2.14 for a first offence — following a hearing on Monday, attended by the four match officials and Lahore Qalandars’ management, during which video footage was reviewed.

The incident had 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.