Kamal Ghorui
Naseem Shah has come under the scanner of the Pakistan Cricket Board after a now-deleted social media post from his official X account appeared to take a dig at Punjab (province of Pakistan) Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during the opening game of the Pakistan Super League.What was the incident?The post, which quote-tweeted a PCB update from the opener between Quetta Gladiators and Hyderabad Kingsmen in Lahore, read: “Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord’s?” It was widely seen as a remark aimed at Maryam Nawaz’s high-profile arrival at Gaddafi Stadium, where she was escorted by a large security convoy and later interacted with players.The tweet was quickly deleted, with a follow-up message claiming the account had been hacked. However, as per The Daily Star, the explanation did not convince PCB officials. Within a day, the board served Naseem with a show-cause notice, citing a breach of his central contract and violation of media guidelines.The alleged offence is understood to fall under a clause barring players from publicly criticising board officials, sponsors, or associated entities. Despite the disciplinary action, Naseem remains available for selection and is likely to feature in his team’s next match.The controversy comes during a subdued PSL season, which began on March 26 under tight restrictions. After consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and franchise stakeholders, the PCB limited the tournament to Lahore and Karachi, with matches being held behind closed doors. Venues in Peshawar, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad were removed from the schedule to conserve fuel amid ongoing regional tensions linked to the Gulf conflict.Earlier, the Pakistan-based militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had issued a warning to overseas players, urging them to withdraw from the league.“The current internal security and political landscape of the country is volatile and precarious. In a climate where military operations and civil unrest dominate significant portions of the territory, the safety of international athletes cannot be guaranteed.”The group added, “Given these dire circumstances, we strongly advise you to prioritise your personal security and withdraw from the tournament immediately. The environment is currently unfit for any peaceful sporting activity.”Despite the warnings and the security concerns, the PSL has gone ahead as planned, with several overseas players, including David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, continuing to take part.
