Pakistan cricketer Zaman gets two-match PSL ban for ball tampering

KARACHI, Mar 31 (AFP): Pakistan international Fakhar Zaman has been banned for two matches after being found guilty of ball tampering during the country's showpiece T20 league, cricket bosses said on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old opener was seen on video footage altering the condition of the ball during his team Lahore Qalandars' match against Karachi Kings in Lahore on Sunday night.
"Zaman has been suspended for two Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches after he was found guilty of a Level 3 offence for tampering the ball," the PCB said in a statement.
The PCB charged Zaman, who denied ball tampering, at a disciplinary hearing with match referee Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka.
Mahanama viewed television footage which showed Qalandars' players Zaman, skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, and umpire Faisal Afridi inspecting the condition of the ball.
The umpire awarded five penalty runs against Qalandars, who lost the match by four wickets.
Earlier, fast bowler Naseem Shah was slapped with the biggest fine in Pakistan cricket history after criticising a politician on social media.