Pakistan’s opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad has been fined on the charges of ball-tampering by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during a domestic tournament. As per the media release of PCB, Shehzad has been fined 50 per cent of his match fees after found guilty of changing the condition of the ball during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy game between Central Punjab and Sindh which happened on Tuesday.

However, he said it was changed naturally. The incident took place in the 17th over of Sindh’s first innings when on-field umpires found there was a change in the ball did by the fielding side. The matter was then reported to the match referee who said after a preliminary review that Ahmed Shehzad, being a captain, had to answer for the incident. After the match on Thursday, he was found guilty.

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“We can agree to disagree in this incident as I maintain that the condition of the ball changed naturally due to the rough playing square and not artificially. I tried to convince the match officials, but they insisted and I accept and respect their decision,” Ahmed Shehzad was quoted as saying in the official statement.

“I would never indulge in such an act nor allow any of my team-mates to disrespect the game. My priority is to play hard, competitive and result-oriented cricket, and at the same time inspire the younger generation, which watches us play the game,” he concluded.