The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed a fine of 20 million Pakistani rupees (approximately $71,488) on pace bowler Naseem Shah for violating several clauses of his central contract and breaching social media guidelines, following a critical post regarding Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
On Monday, Shah was penalized for a post he shared on X (formerly Twitter), which he later deleted. In the post, he questioned the appropriateness of Nawaz's attendance at the opening match of the Pakistan Super League, an event occurring behind closed doors amid ongoing fuel shortages in the country.
The PCB, under the leadership of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, issued a show-cause notice to Shah prior to levying what local media has reported as the largest financial fine in the history of Pakistan cricket, equating to roughly eight months' salary from Shah's central contract.
Nawaz had been invited to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday, along with several other dignitaries, where she was introduced to franchise officials and players before the opening match.
In his now-deleted post, Shah remarked: “Why is she treated like the queen at Lord’s?” implying discontent with Nawaz’s high-profile presence at the event. Following the backlash, Shah claimed that his account had been hacked.
The 23-year-old expressed remorse and appeared before a three-member disciplinary committee in Lahore on Monday, which found him guilty of the violations. The PCB reported that during the proceedings, Shah extended an “unconditional apology” and indicated that his social media adviser had been dismissed and blacklisted by the PCB.
On X, Shah acknowledged that the controversial post was crafted by his management team and did not represent his personal views. "I take full responsibility for my platform and have implemented the necessary changes to ensure this does not happen again," he stated on Monday.
The decision comes in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions, which have led to restrictions on fans attending matches in Pakistan's premier domestic T20 tournament, now limited to venues in Lahore and Karachi. The rise in fuel prices has compelled the government to advise citizens to minimize travel and work from home.
Additionally, last year, Pakistan all-rounder Aamer Jamal faced a $4,000 fine for displaying a slogan supporting Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister currently imprisoned.
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