The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined national pacer Naseem Shah Rs20 million over a controversial social media post regarding Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
A show cause notice was issued to the right-arm pacer on 27 March 2026, requesting a response to the allegedly inappropriate post on his official account.
After receiving his response, a three-member Disciplinary Committee conducted a personal hearing on 30 March 2026 to examine breaches of central contract clauses and social media guidelines.
The PCB stated that Naseem Shah violated multiple clauses of his central contract despite submitting an unconditional apology acknowledging the social media post had attracted public attention.
Apology and Adviser Termination Do Not Reduce Fine
The committee confirmed that Shah terminated his social media adviser, who has been blacklisted by the PCB from associating with any national players under its jurisdiction.
The disciplinary committee imposed the Rs20 million fine on the 23-year-old pacer, noting that the adviser’s termination did not mitigate Shah’s responsibility under PCB regulations.
The PCB emphasised that professional standards, contractual obligations, and integrity of the game remain a priority, and similar breaches will continue to be addressed through formal disciplinary measures.
Controversial PSL Opening Tweet Sparks Social Media Debate
The controversy arose during the Pakistan Super League 11 opening ceremony at the Gaddafi Stadium, which Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz attended as the official guest of honour.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi welcomed Maryam Nawaz at the event and introduced her to franchise owners, officials, and players prior to the curtain-raiser match of the tournament.
Shortly afterward, a quote retweet appeared from Naseem Shah’s X account, showing the chairman greeting the Chief Minister, accompanied by a comment questioning why she received such attention.
The now-deleted message read, “Why is she being treat like the queen at Lords?” and generated widespread discussion and debate across social media platforms in Pakistan.
Naseem Shah clarified that his social media account had been hacked and insisted the post was not intentional, attributing the issue entirely to a security breach.
PCB Tightens Rules on Political Expression
The PCB has adopted a stricter stance, enforcing rules against political expression by cricketers, following previous disciplinary action involving allrounder Aamer Jamal last year notably.
Jamal was fined more than PKR 1 million, approximately USD 4000, after displaying a slogan supporting former prime minister and ex-Pakistan captain Imran Khan publicly.
During a training session in the home Test series against England, Jamal wore “804” on his hat, referencing Imran Khan’s prisoner number since August 2023.
The fine imposed on Naseem Shah is over sixteen times higher than Jamal’s penalty, equating to roughly eight months of his current central contract salary.
