LAHORE (HRNW): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed a heavy fine of PKR 20 million on national fast bowler Naseem Shah. The disciplinary action follows an alleged violation of the board’s Code of Conduct and social media policy for centrally contracted players.
Background of the Disciplinary Action
The controversy stems from a post made by the cricketer a few days ago on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). The post reportedly contained comments regarding the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz.
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The Incident: While the tweet was deleted within minutes of being posted, screenshots of the message quickly went viral across social media platforms, drawing the attention of PCB officials.
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Violation of Contract: Under the PCB’s central contract, players are strictly prohibited from making political statements or commenting on government officials. The board maintains a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding any activity that could be perceived as bringing the game or the institution into disrepute.
Reactions from the Cricket Community
The magnitude of the fine—PKR 20 million—has sparked a significant debate among cricket fans and analysts. Some argue that the penalty is excessively harsh for a deleted post, while others believe that international athletes must adhere to professional standards and exercise caution when using digital platforms.
Naseem Shah has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the penalty. However, sources close to the player suggest that he may have the right to appeal the decision through the board’s legal channels.
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