The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has handed pace bowler Naseem Shah a record fine of 20 million Pakistani rupees (approximately $71,500) following a controversial social media post targeting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The fine comes after Shah violated multiple clauses of his central contract and the PCB’s social media regulations.
The disciplinary action stems from a tweet Shah posted on X, questioning the chief minister’s attendance at the Pakistan Super League (PSL) opening match—a fixture held without spectators due to the country’s ongoing fuel crisis. The post was swiftly deleted, and Shah later claimed his account had been compromised.
Before the fine was levied, Shah received a show-cause notice and appeared before a three-member PCB disciplinary panel in Lahore. During the proceedings, the 23-year-old offered an “unconditional apology” for the incident.
A recent post from my account was made by my management team and does not reflect my views.
— Naseem Shah (@iNaseemShah) March 30, 2026
I take full responsibility for my platform and have implemented the necessary changes to ensure this does not happen again.
I sincerely apologise to everyone affected by this misuse of…
“The panel reviewed the matter and noted that Naseem Shah’s social media adviser has been terminated and will be blacklisted from working with any player under PCB jurisdiction,” the board stated.
Shah took to X to clarify that the controversial post was created by his management team and did not represent his personal views. “I take full responsibility for my platform and have made the necessary changes to prevent this from happening again,” he said.
The controversy comes amid heightened sensitivity as PSL matches are restricted to Lahore and Karachi, with fans banned from attending due to rising fuel costs and government advisories urging minimal travel.
Shah, who was the most expensive player in this year’s PSL auction representing Rawalpindi Pindiz, has an impressive record of 152 wickets across 20 Tests, 34 ODIs, and 37 T20 matches for Pakistan.
This incident marks one of the most significant fines in Pakistan cricket history, surpassing last year’s $4,000 penalty imposed on all-rounder Aamer Jamal for displaying a slogan in support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Read More: Fakhar Zaman Faces Ball-Tampering Charge in PSL Clash
