Naseem Shah Fined PKR 20 Million for Controversial Social Media Post

PCB Takes Action Against Naseem Shah

On Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a hefty fine of PKR 20 million (approximately USD 72,000) on fast bowler Naseem Shah due to a controversial social media post that criticized Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's attendance at the PSL opening match amidst a regional crisis.

During the inaugural game of the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL), Naseem made a sarcastic remark about the 'queen' treatment afforded to Maryam, who is the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the niece of current PM Shahbaz Sharif, at the Gaddafi Stadium.

He questioned, "Why is she being treated like the Queen at Lords?" in reference to Maryam's presence.

This incident occurred after the PCB had prohibited fans from attending PSL matches in Lahore and Karachi to conserve fuel and comply with government austerity measures due to the Gulf war.

Following an investigation, the PCB's disciplinary committee found Naseem guilty of violating his central contract and breaching social media protocols.

A show-cause notice was issued to him on March 27, right after Maryam attended the PSL opening match as the chief guest.

Although the tweet was deleted swiftly, with claims that his account had been hacked, the PCB dismissed this explanation.

The board noted that Naseem had issued an unconditional apology for his actions.

After reviewing his response, the committee concluded that he had indeed violated several clauses of his contract, leading to the imposed fine of PKR 2 crore.

Additionally, Naseem's social media advisor has been terminated and blacklisted by the PCB.