LAHORE: Adding to an already charged environment at the Pakistan Super League 2026, fast bowler Naseem Shah has come under scrutiny from the Pakistan Cricket Board following a controversial social media post, which has since been deleted.
The post appeared to criticise Punjab (a province in Pakistan) Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during the tournament opener.
It quote-tweeted a PCB media update from the PSL opener between Quetta Gladiators and Hyderabad Kingsmen in Lahore.
“Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord’s?” the post read, a remark widely interpreted as a jab at Maryam Nawaz’s high-profile arrival at Gaddafi Stadium, where she was escorted by a large security convoy and later seen interacting with players.
The tweet was removed shortly after, with a follow-up claim stating that the account had been hacked. However, the explanation reportedly failed to convince PCB officials.
According to reports, the board issued a show-cause notice within 24 hours, citing a potential breach of central contract terms and violation of its media policy.
The alleged breach falls under provisions that restrict players from publicly criticising board officials, sponsors, or related entities. Despite the ongoing disciplinary proceedings, Naseem remains available for selection and is expected to feature in his side’s upcoming fixtures.
The controversy comes amid an unusually subdued PSL season, which began on March 26 under heightened security conditions. Following consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and franchise stakeholders, the PCB limited the tournament to just two venues, Lahore and Karachi, and barred spectators.
Several cities, including Peshawar, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad, were excluded from the schedule as part of measures to conserve fuel amid ongoing regional tensions linked to the Gulf conflict.
Earlier, militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had issued a warning to foreign players, urging them to withdraw from the tournament due to security concerns.
Despite the tense environment, the PSL continues as scheduled, with overseas players such as David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne still participating.
Agencies