Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah has been penalized heavily by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after a controversial social media remark related to the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The board imposed a fine of PKR 20 million following a post in which the pacer questioned the presence of a political figure during the tournament’s opening ceremony.
The incident occurred during the launch of the PSL’s 11th season at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attended the opening event alongside officials and franchise representatives. Naseem, who is part of the newly formed Rawalpindi Pindiz franchise, reacted to a PCB social media post and made a remark that quickly drew attention online.
Although the post was deleted within a short time and replaced with a statement claiming his account had been compromised, screenshots had already circulated widely across social media platforms. The situation escalated, prompting PCB to take disciplinary action.
Following the controversy, Naseem Shah issued an unconditional apology and appeared before a disciplinary panel in Lahore. The PCB confirmed that the fast bowler had violated multiple clauses of his central contract, including guidelines related to media conduct.
In its official statement, the board also revealed that Naseem had dismissed his social media advisor, who will now be barred from working with any players under PCB’s jurisdiction.
This incident adds to a series of disciplinary actions taken by the board in recent times, reinforcing its strict stance on player conduct, particularly regarding public and political commentary.
On the field, Naseem’s recent performance for Rawalpindi Pindiz has also been under scrutiny. In a recent match against Peshawar Zalmi, he conceded 51 runs without taking a wicket in a losing effort. Despite the setback, the young pacer remains a key figure in Pakistan cricket, having taken 152 international wickets across formats.