Naseem Shah Fined By PCB Over Maryam Nawaz Tweet
Naseem Shah’s post on X(Formally known as Twitter) became a major talking point during the ongoing PSL 11. The sanction by the PCB follows a social media post from Naseem Shah’s account that appeared to criticise Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz, before being swiftly deleted.
PCB takes strong disciplinary action
According to the PCB, Naseem Shah was “found to have breached various clauses of his central contract” after a disciplinary hearing conducted by a three-member committee.
The board confirmed that the fast bowler issued an unconditional apology during the hearing and dismissed his social media manager. The PCB also stated that the manager has been blacklisted from working with any players under its jurisdiction.
Despite the apology, the PCB proceeded with what is believed to be the largest fine in Pakistan cricket history, amounting to PKR 20 million (approximately USD 72,000).
Controversial tweet and aftermath
The issue stemmed from a now-deleted post on Naseem Shah’s account, which quote-tweeted a PCB media post and questioned the treatment of Maryam Nawaz, stating: “Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord’s?”
The tweet appeared ahead of the opening match of PSL 11, where Nawaz was present at the Gaddafi Stadium and interacted with players from Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Shortly after the post was published, it was removed and replaced with a message claiming that the account had been hacked and later recovered.
Context around PSL 11 opening
The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of the PSL 11 opener, which was initially announced to be held without spectators due to fuel conservation measures linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the wider West Asia crisis.
However, several dignitaries attended the opening match, adding further attention to the situation.
Naseem Shah, who represents Rawalpindiz, had been signed for PKR 86.50 million (approximately USD 310,000), making him the most expensive player at the PSL auction earlier this year.
PCB’s stance on political expression
The PCB has increasingly taken a strict stance on political expression by players.
Last year, allrounder Aamer Jamal was fined over PKR 1 million for displaying a slogan in support of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan during a training session in the home Test series against England.
Jamal had “804” written on his floppy hat, referencing Imran Khan’s prisoner number following his incarceration in August 2023.
Compared to that incident, Naseem Shah’s fine is more than 16 times higher and is estimated to be equivalent to around eight months of his central contract salary, where he is currently placed in the ‘C’ category.
What this means
The decision underlines the PCB’s firm approach to maintaining contractual discipline and controlling off-field conduct during PSL 11.
For players, it reinforces the importance of adhering to central contract guidelines, while the scale of the fine highlights the seriousness with which the board is treating such breaches.
Also check out:
Lahore Qalandars Ball Tampering Controversy in PSL 11
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