Younis Khan Criticizes PCB's Heavy Fine on Naseem Shah for Social Media Comments

Younis Khan Voices Discontent Over PCB's Punishment of Naseem Shah

Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Younis Khan, has expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the substantial penalty levied on fast bowler Naseem Shah by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This fine was imposed following Shah's controversial remarks about a political figure on social media, which Younis believes are detrimental to both the players and the sport.

The disciplinary committee of the PCB acted swiftly, concluding their investigation within three days and imposing a hefty fine of 20 million rupees on Shah for violating the players' code of conduct. This decision stemmed from a tweet where Shah made sarcastic comments about Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who attended the opening match of the Pakistan Super League at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 27.

Younis criticized the severity of the fine, suggesting it was unwarranted. He stated, "After Naseem apologized for his tweet and clarified that his social media manager was responsible, the board could have opted for a warning instead of such a steep penalty."

He further emphasized that such punitive measures could demoralize players, urging the PCB to prioritize the well-being of its athletes. Younis also pointed out that if the board is to enforce strict penalties, then selectors and officials should also face consequences for misleading statements or negligence in their roles.

In response to Shah's tweet, the PCB has introduced new regulations requiring all centrally and domestically contracted players to obtain approval from the board before sharing any content on social media, particularly concerning political matters. The board has made it clear that any political posts could result in a fine of up to 10 million rupees.