The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a show-cause notice to fast bowler Naseem Shah, accusing him of violating the terms of his central contract following a controversial social media post that was later deleted. The controversy arose from a post on X (formerly Twitter) linked to Naseem Shah, which appeared to criticise Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Punjab. In the now-deleted post, Naseem had questioned her treatment during the opening match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), stating, “Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord’s?”
Th post was seen as a direct jab at Nawaz, who attended the PSL opener at Gaddafi Stadium with a large security entourage. She was also seen interacting with players from both Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen. Within minutes, the post was deleted and replaced with a clarification from Naseem claiming his account had been hacked and later recovered. However, the explanation appears to have done little to satisfy the PCB.
In a statement released roughly 24 hours later, the PCB confirmed that Naseem Shah had been served a notice for breaching both his central contract and the board’s media policies. Naseem Shah is now reportedly required to provide a response within the stipulated time. However, the board did not specify the exact provision violated. Moreover, the PCB will determine any disciplinary action after obtaining the player’s response. Notably, the controversy comes in light of the board's decision to hold the Pakistan Super League (PSL) behind closed doors due to Pakistan’s fuel conservation measures amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.