Naseem Shah has reportedly been hit with what is thought to be the largest fine in the history of Pakistan cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took strict action against the fast bowler following a quickly deleted tweet from his account that appeared to criticize Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Two days after issuing a show-cause notice, the PCB announced that Naseem had been fined PKR 20 million (roughly USD 72,000).
Naseem, who has recently joined Rawalpindiz, one of the two new franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), seemed to direct his comments at Nawaz ahead of the tournament’s opening match on Friday. Previously, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had stated that the PSL would be held without spectators due to Pakistan’s need to conserve fuel amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing West Asia crisis.
Despite this, a number of notable figures were present at the opening match. Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and niece of the current Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, was seen arriving at Gaddafi Stadium and interacting with attendees, including players from both the Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen teams.
Naseem’s account initially quote-tweeted a post from the PCB media account, commenting, “Why is she being treated like the Queen at Lord’s?” Shortly afterward, Naseem deleted that post and replaced it with a message claiming his account had been hacked, and that he had regained control.
According to a PCB statement, a three-member disciplinary panel held a hearing earlier today. During the hearing, Naseem offered an unconditional apology and dismissed his social media manager. The PCB also announced that the manager has been blacklisted from working with any other player under the PCB’s jurisdiction.
Despite these actions, the PCB has imposed a substantial fine on Naseem. The statement explained that he was “found to have violated several clauses of his central contract,” and emphasized the board’s commitment to “maintaining professional standards, honoring contractual obligations, and protecting the integrity of the sport.”
The PCB has increasingly taken a strict stance against political expressions by its players. Last year, all-rounder Aamer Jamal was fined over PKR 1 million (around USD 4,000) for displaying a slogan in support of former prime minister and Pakistan captain Imran Khan.
