By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah has been fined Rs 20 million by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of breaching clauses of his central contract and the board’s social media guidelines, the governing body said on Monday.
The PCB said it had issued a show-cause notice to the 23-year-old pacer on March 27, 2026, outlining multiple violations and seeking his response. Following receipt of his reply, a three-member disciplinary committee convened a personal hearing.
“Whilst noting the unconditional apology tendered, Naseem is found to have breached various clauses of his central contract,” the PCB said in a statement, adding that the fine had been imposed after evaluating his submissions.
The case stems from a controversial post published on Naseem’s account on X, formerly Twitter, during the opening game of the HBL PSL 11 between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen on March 26. The post, which was later deleted, questioned the protocol extended to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz at the venue and quickly drew widespread attention.
The comment triggered a wave of reactions across social media, with fans and analysts debating whether the post reflected the player’s personal views or a lapse in judgment.
Naseem, who plays for Rawalpindiz subsequently denied responsibility for the message, stating that his account had been hacked. In a clarification issued shortly after the incident, he said the account had been “recently hacked but now recovered successfully,” attributing the post to a security breach rather than personal intent.
Despite the explanation, the PCB proceeded with disciplinary action, underlining the responsibility of centrally contracted players to ensure proper management of their public platforms.
As part of the fallout, Naseem terminated his social media adviser. The PCB confirmed that the individual has been blacklisted and barred from working with any players under its jurisdiction.
The board reiterated its commitment to maintaining professional standards and enforcing contractual obligations, signaling a strict stance on player conduct both on and off the field.
The incident highlights the growing scrutiny on athletes’ digital presence in Pakistan cricket, where centrally contracted players are bound by codes governing public communication and behavior.
Meanwhile Naseem Shah has tweeted an hour ago following fine imposed on him: “A recent post from my account was made by my management team and does not reflect my views. I take full responsibility for my platform and have implemented the necessary changes to ensure this does not happen again. I sincerely apologise to everyone affected by this misuse of my platform.”
