PCB cracks down on Naseem Shah, slaps PKR 20 million fine over PSL politician remark

Naseem Shah has been signed by Rawalpindi Pindiz, one of the two new franchises in the PSL

Updated on: Mar 30, 2026, 20:43:06 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah on Monday faced the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) wrath as he was slapped with a hefty fine of PKR 20 million for his recent social media post criticising the presence of a politician at the opening game of the Pakistan Super League. The 11th season of the tournament started last week behind closed doors.

Pakistan's Naseem Shah dives to field the ball during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP)

As defending champion Lahore Qalandars and first-timers Hyderabad Kingsmen geared up for the opener at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium last Thursday, PSL organised a small ceremony where chief Minister of the Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz, was invited along with other dignitaries, and were introduced to officials of the eight franchises and players ahead of the start of the match.

Taking to social media, Shah, who has been signed by Rawalpindi Pindiz, one of the two new franchises in the PSL, posted on X taking a dig at Nawaz, who is the daughter of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the niece of current Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The pacer quote-tweeted the post from the PCB media account, saying "Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord's?"

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Although he deleted it instantly, replacing it with another post, before saying his account was hacked and recovered, screenshots of the post went viral on social media.

Shah tendered an unconditional apology after the PCB issued a notice to the fast bowler for violating the terms of his central contract as well as its media policy and regulations. He also appeared before a three-member disciplinary committee in Lahore on Monday.

The PCB said that Shah was found “to have breached various clauses of his central contract.”

“It was noted that Naseem Shah’s social media adviser has already been terminated by Naseem and shall be blacklisted by the PCB from associating with any player falling under the PCB’s jurisdiction,” the PCB said.

Last year, Pakistan all-rounder Aamer Jamal was fined $4,000 for displaying a slogan supporting cricket legend and former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently in jail.

Meanwhile, Naseem Shah, who plays for new PSL franchise Rawalpindi Pindiz, had a tough outing, conceding 51 runs without taking a wicket in their five-wicket loss to Peshawar Zalmi.

The right-arm pacer has so far taken 152 wickets for Pakistan across formats, including 20 Tests, 34 ODIs, and 37 T20Is.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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