Naseem Shah (Image credit: X)

NEW DELHI:It appears that Pakistan’s star pacer Naseem Shah and trouble are going hand in hand. First, he was handed a hefty fine for his comments about a politician on social media – narrowly avoiding a ban – and now fresh concerns around his fitness that ruled him out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).Beyond behavioural issues, his fitness worries have continued to mount, something that has not gone down well with the Pakistan Cricket Board.Naseem is likely to face action from the Pakistan Cricket Board over both his fitness concerns and his conduct. He will be required to undergo an extensive rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the medical panel.He was fined what is believed to be the largest penalty in Pakistan cricket history – PKR 20 million (approximately USD 72,000) – after criticising Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz, in a tweet.“Naseem suffered a side strain during Rawalpindi’s match against Karachi Kings on Thursday and missed the team’s last match, which has raised serious questions over his fitness,” sources told www.telecomasia.net“Naseem’s rise has been stunted by off-field behaviour, his excessive attention to advertisements and podcasts, which has derailed his career. He also missed the 2023 ODI World Cup due to fitness issues, which are blots in his career,” Telecom Asia Sport said, quoting sources.“Naseem will appear before the medical panel under Dr Javed Mughal in the next couple of days, as the selection committee is also not happy with his frequent fitness issues,” sources added.Naseem had suffered an injury during Pakistan’s disappointing 2026 T20 World Cup campaign and was subsequently ruled out of the tour of Bangladesh.He was also demoted to the ‘C’ category in the central contracts list last year.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan Cricket Board has doubled down on ensuring the smooth conduct of the Pakistan Super League 2026, but a fresh controversy has emerged involving two senior Lahore Qalandars players. Amid ongoing concerns over a possible two-day lockdown due to a fuel shortage in the country, skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi and all-rounder Sikandar Raza have reportedly breached strict security protocols laid out for the tournament. The duo allegedly allowed four individuals to stay inside Raza’s hotel room for more than two hours, in violation of isolation and safety guidelines. The PSL is currently being conducted under heightened security arrangements, with more than 6,000 police personnel deployed alongside AI-based surveillance systems and drone monitoring. Due to security concerns and regional tensions, the tournament has been limited to two venues — Lahore and Karachi — and is being held behind closed doors without spectators. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had earlier stressed the importance of hosting the league despite the situation. “We don’t know how long the current situation will persist, but hosting the PSL is essential. It is an international brand, and foreign players are involved. Everyone is eager for the PSL to go ahead,” he said. Following the reported breach, Lahore’s Deputy Inspector General of Police Faisal Kamran has formally notified the PCB and PSL authorities through an official letter. The matter is now expected to be investigated, with disciplinary action likely. At the very least, a fine could be imposed, while a match ban remains a possibility. Concerns have also been raised that failure to act could set a poor precedent for other players. The letter further claims that the team’s liaison officer had initially sought permission from the PCB to allow the four visitors into the hotel room, but the request was denied. A similar request from franchise owner Sameen Rana was also rejected. Despite this, Raza allegedly went ahead and allowed the visitors, even after security personnel advised against it. Confirming awareness of the situation, Qalandars’ head of media Umar Farooq said, “We are aware of an incident involving two Lahore Qalandars players, and are in communication with the PSL over the matter.” With the tournament already being conducted under strict security measures, the incident has raised fresh questions around discipline and adherence to protocols within team environments.