The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has accused fast bowler Naseem Shah of “violating the terms of his central contract” and issued him with a show-cause notice after a post on his X account, later deleted, appeared to criticise the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz. A statement from the PCB said it would determine any disciplinary action after receiving Naseem’s response.
Naseem, who has been signed by Rawalpindi Pindiz, one of the two new franchises in the PSL, appeared to take aim at Nawaz ahead of the opening game of the tournament on Friday. Last week, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had announced the PSL would take place without spectators owing to Pakistan’s need to conserve fuel due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the West Asia crisis.
However, a number of dignitaries were present at the first game. Nawaz, who is the daughter of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the niece of current Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, was shown arriving at the Gaddafi Stadium with a security entourage that comprised several cars. She was seen meeting people at the venue including players from both teams, Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Naseem’s account quote-tweeted the post from the PCB media account, saying “Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord’s?” Minutes later, Naseem’s post was taken down, and replaced with another post saying his account had been hacked, and had been recovered by him.
That appears not to have assuaged the PCB. Twenty-four hours on, they have issued a statement declaring that Naseem violated both the terms of his central contract as well as media policy and regulations. While the PCB did not clarify the specific clause Naseem had violated, it appears to do with clause 2.23 of the PCB’s code of conduct. It states that any “public criticism of, or inappropriate comment in relation to the Board, any of its officials or sponsors or policies, the ICC or any of its officers or sponsors, Player, Player Support Personnel or Match Officials including umpires and match referees, irrespective of when such criticism or inappropriate comment is made” is not permitted.
The PCB have taken an increasingly strong position in clamping down on any political expression among its cricketers of late. Last year, allrounder Aamer Jamal was slapped with a fine in excess of PKR 1 million (USD 4000 approx) for displaying a slogan showing support for former prime minister and Pakistan captain Imran Khan.
Jamal turned up for a Pakistan training day during the home Test series against England in December last year with “804” written on the underside of his floppy hat. That is the prisoner number for Imran, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, with the number becoming a popular rallying cry among his supporters.
Naseem is scheduled to play his first game of the tournament on Saturday, when the Pindiz take on Peshawar Zalmi.
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