Online Reporter
LAHORE Qalandars’ experienced Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza has clarified that he was not involved in changing the condition of the ball during their Pakistan Super League 11 cricket match against arch-rivals Karachi Kings here at the Gaddafi Stadium last Sunday.
The controversy erupted ahead of the final over of the Kings’ run chase, when the on-field umpires gathered to analyse the ball and deemed that its condition was altered, which resulted in a five-run penalty for the Qalandars. The penalty brought the equation down to just nine required off the final over instead of 14 for the Kings, and Abbas Afridi’s consecutive boundaries on the second and third deliveries steered the 2020 champions to an enthralling four-wicket victory.
Raza, who briefly engaged with on-field umpires Shahid Saikat and Faisal Afridi during the assessment of the ball’s condition, has swiftly denied altering its condition and insisted that the match officials could tell better about the controversy.
He further shared that the on-field umpires had instructed the Qalandars’ players to step aside during the process.
“I think the exact communication is yet to be conveyed. The umpires asked us to move aside as they were speaking with the other umpire. When we asked for reasons, they told us to step aside for the time being,” Raza said at the post-match press conference.
“The exact answer can be better provided by the umpires themselves, or the other umpire who had the walkie-talkie,” he added.
He further asserted that he never attempted to alter the condition of the ball before confirming that he was not summoned for an inquiry. “I think I can only speak for myself. I mean, there was never an attempt from my side to change the condition of the ball or even to even try,” Raza clarified.
“As far as I remember, I was fielding at long-on where there was a bit of dew. We were requested not to try and dry the ball under the shirt, so I started doing it with the sleeves.
“Unless we see proof of which player they are asking about or accusing, it is a big decision.
“I have just gone to the changing room, and I can assure you that I have been called in for an inquiry, so I think that means I’m safe.
Afridi fined
Meanwhile, Lahore Qalandars have fined Shaheen Shah Afridi PKR 1 million (approximately US$3 600) following the incident that saw the Punjab police accuse him of violating security protocols at the team hotel.
In a statement, Qalandars said they had imposed the fine on their captain to “maintain discipline and impose accountability”.
There will be no action taken against Qalandars’ Zimbabwean player Sikandar Raza, who was also accused by the police of violating the same protocols. At a press conference on Monday, Raza said he took responsibility for the incident and attempted to exonerate Afridi from blame.
News of the incident emerged after a letter from the Punjab police to PSL CEO Salman Naseer was made widely available on social media.
It accused Qalandars, Afridi and Raza’s team, of violating security protocols, alleging that, despite being refused permission to receive visitors in Raza’s room by both the PCB’s security and anti-corruption manager as well as Naseer, Afridi and Raza took people up to the player’s room.
Despite Raza saying they stayed in his room for 40 minutes, the letter claims they spent approximately three hours there.
Qalandars accepted the broader details of the incident, but the statement said it had been “overstated in public discourse, amplified beyond its original context”, and was “unnecessarily escalated”.
“While underscoring that the matter arose from a misunderstanding rather than any deliberate attempt to violate established procedures, Lahore Qalandars reiterated its full respect for all security protocols,” the statement said.
“The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emphasised the importance of continued clarity and alignment in the communication of protocols to prevent similar situations in the future.” — Cricinfo.
