Naseem Shah Faces PCB Disciplinary Action Over Controversial Tweet

Naseem Shah, the Pakistani pacer, is under scrutiny from the Pakistan Cricket Board for allegedly violating his central contract following a controversial tweet aimed at Punjab's Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz. The tweet, which criticized her presence at the PSL opener despite the tournament being held without spectators due to a fuel crisis, has led to a show-cause notice from the PCB. This incident highlights the board's strict stance on political expressions among players, as seen in a recent case involving all-rounder Aamer Jamal. As Naseem prepares for his next match against Peshawar Zalmi, the implications of his actions remain to be seen.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 28, 2026, 13:08 IST

PCB Accuses Naseem Shah of Contract Violation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has accused pacer Naseem Shah of breaching the terms of his central contract. This follows a now-deleted post on X that seemed to criticize Punjab's Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, who attended the Pakistan Super League (PSL) opener alongside other dignitaries. This event occurred behind closed doors due to a fuel crisis stemming from the conflict in West Asia. Naseem, who has played for Pakistan across all formats and has taken 152 international wickets, has received a show-cause notice from the PCB. According to a statement from the board, disciplinary measures will be decided after considering Naseem's explanation.

Details of the Controversial Tweet

Naseem, playing for Rawalpindi Pindiz, one of the new franchises in the PSL, appeared to make a critical remark about Maryam ahead of the match between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Lahore Qalandars. Last week, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced that the tournament would proceed without fans due to the need to conserve fuel following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Despite this, several dignitaries, including Maryam, were present at the first match. She is the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the niece of current Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Maryam arrived at Gaddafi Stadium with a significant security detail and was seen interacting with players and attendees.

In a quote-tweet of a post from the PCB's media account, Naseem remarked, "Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord's?" Shortly after, the tweet was deleted, and he later claimed that his account had been hacked but was subsequently recovered. The PCB has since stated that Naseem violated both his central contract and the board's media policies. Although the specific clause breached was not disclosed, it likely pertains to clause 2.23 of the PCB's code of conduct, which prohibits public criticism or inappropriate comments regarding the board, its officials, sponsors, or any match officials.

PCB's Firm Stance on Political Statements

The PCB has recently taken a hardline approach against political expressions from its players. All-rounder Aamer Jamal was fined over 1 million PKR (approximately USD 4,000) for displaying a slogan supporting former Prime Minister and 1992 World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan. During a practice session for home Tests against England last year, Jamal wore a hat with "804" written on it, which is Imran's prisoner number, as he has been incarcerated since August 2023. This number has become a popular symbol of support among Imran's followers.

Naseem is set to play today as his team faces off against Peshawar Zalmi.