Mr Shah fined him $71,000 for a tweet questioning the Punjab chief minister’s attendance at the PSL’s opening match during the economic crisis.
Published March 31, 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined Naseem Shah 20 million Pakistani rupees ($71,488) for violating multiple provisions of the central contract and social media guidelines after he made social media posts criticizing Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The pace bowler was punished on Monday for a now-deleted post on X that questioned Nawaz’s participation in the Pakistan Super League opener. The Pakistan Super League is being played behind closed doors amid the fuel crisis.
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Shah was issued a show-cause notice by the PCB, headed by Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi, imposing what local media reported was the largest penalty in Pakistan cricket history and a fine equivalent to approximately eight months of Shah’s center contract salary.
Nawaz was invited to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday along with other dignitaries and was introduced to officials and players from the eight teams before the opening game.
Shah wrote to X, “Why is she treated like the Queen of Roses?” An obvious reference to Nawaz’s presence at the stadium. He quickly deleted the post and later said his account had been hacked.
The 23-year-old apologized and appeared before a three-member disciplinary committee in Lahore on Monday, where he was found guilty. The PCB said Mr Shah offered an “unconditional apology” during the proceedings.
“It was noted that Mr. Naseem Shah’s social media advisor has already been fired by Mr. Naseem and will be blacklisted by the PCB for his association with players under the jurisdiction of the PCB,” the PCB said in a statement.
Shah admitted to X that the post was made by management and “does not reflect” his views.
“I take full responsibility for my platform and have implemented the necessary changes to ensure that something like this never happens again,” Shah wrote to X on Monday.
Fans are not allowed to watch matches at Pakistan’s premier T20 tournament, which has been reduced to two venues in Lahore and Karachi in the aftermath of the US-Israel war against Iran. In response to soaring fuel prices, the government has asked citizens to limit travel and work from home.
Shah became the most expensive player in the league’s auction and was sold to new franchise Rawalpindi Pindies. He took 152 wickets for Pakistan in 20 Test matches, 34 One-Day Internationals and 37 T20s.
Last year, Pakistani all-rounder Aamer Jamal was fined $4,000 for raising slogans in support of Pakistan’s imprisoned cricket great Imran Khan.
