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LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars were hit with a five-run penalty for altering the condition of the ball in a dramatic late twist that helped Karachi Kings clinch a tense victory in their Pakistan Super League clash on Sunday.
The incident occurred at the end of the 19th over of Karachi’s chase, with the Kings needing 14 runs from the final over at Gaddafi Stadium. Fast bowler Haris Rauf was set to deliver the last over when Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf and Fakhar Zaman gathered near the bowler’s mark and handled the ball.
On-field umpire Faisal Afridi, who appeared to be closely observing the exchange, called for the ball and conducted an inspection. After consulting with square-leg umpire Sharfuddoula, the officials ruled that the ball’s condition had been deliberately changed.
As a result, five penalty runs were awarded to Karachi Kings, reducing the target to nine runs from the final over. The ball was also replaced immediately.
The decision sparked visible frustration from Afridi, who reacted angrily on the field as the match slipped away from Lahore Qalandars.
Speaking after the match, Afridi suggested uncertainty over the ruling.
“We’ll see what the umpires say,” Afridi said.
The penalty proved decisive in shifting momentum. Although Khushdil Shah was dismissed off the first ball of the final over, Rauf followed with a wide delivery to further ease the pressure. Abbas Afridi then struck a boundary and a six in successive deliveries to seal victory with three balls remaining.
The win maintained Karachi’s unbeaten start to the season, giving them two victories in as many matches, while Lahore were left with one win and one defeat from their opening two fixtures.
The controversy overshadowed an otherwise tightly contested match, with the late decision effectively tilting the balance in Karachi’s favour and raising questions over discipline and adherence to playing conditions in the tournament.
