Babar Azam with a heated exchange with the referee (Screengrab)
Babar Azam was seen engaging in a heated discussion with the umpire during the PSL match between Peshawar Zalami and Lahore Qalandars after repeated ball changes early in the innings.The first incident occurred on the 11th ball, when Mohammad Basit bowled the ball from behind to Mohammad Naeem, who cleared his front leg and hit it over square leg for a boundary.
The ball sailed off the ropes and could not be recovered, forcing the fourth official to bring off a substitute.After just five deliveries, on the 16th ball, Khurram Shehzad bowled another short-length delivery that Naeem sent down deep mid-wicket for a six. Once again, the ball was lost out of bounds, prompting another substitution.After these successive incidents, Babar looked visibly frustrated and was seen in a lively exchange with the referee, questioning the need to change the ball again so early in the match.
The unusual sequence of events, with two balls lost within the first three overs, sparked confusion and clearly did not sit well with Peshawar skipper Zalami.
In the 38th match of the Pakistan Super League 2026, Lahore Qalandars registered a thrilling six-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi at Gaddafi Stadium. Zalmi scored a massive 199/4, supported by half-centuries from Michael Bracewell and Babar Azam. In response, Lahore chased down the target with a lead of 19.3 runs, led by a crucial knock from Fakhar Zaman, with strong support from the middle order. The high-scoring contest saw nearly 400 points scored, but Lahore held their nerve in the final to secure an important win and keep their qualifying hopes alive.
reconnaissance
Should the rules regarding ball substitution in the English Premier League be reviewed?
