Pakistan Cricket Team. Image Credits: AP
Naseem Shah has been in deep waters recently due to his controversial statement about Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and he recently received a fresh threat yet again from the Pakistan Ministry.
Earlier, Naseem Shah was fined by the PCB for 20 million PKR due to his deleted tweet on Maryam Nawaz that sarcastically questioned her treatment like a queen at the PSL 2026 opening ceremony. However, weeks after the controversy, another threat from the Sports Ministry of Pakistan has now rattled the pacer.
What is the Naseem Shah-Maryam Nawaz controversy in PSL 2026?
Shah, Rawalpindiz cricketer for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), shared a tweet on his account that sarcastically criticised the Punjab Chief Minister after a security convoy was present for her at the Gaddafi Stadium for the inauguration.
Pointing at the security and high-profile attendance, Shah tweeted on his official X handle, “Why is she treated like the Queen at Lords?” This statement immediately went viral, with the PCB noticing the offensive remark.
Also Read- Pakistan Veteran Provokes Indian Cricket Team Against Narendra Modi After Naseem Shah's Case
However, Shah then claimed that the account was hacked, and later apologised, stating that his social media manager was responsible for the post.
Nevertheless, he received one of the largest fines in Pakistan cricket history. Although the Naseem Shah tweet seemed to be a harmless dig at first, it landed him in massive trouble, now also involving Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Khokhar.
Naseem Shah receives fresh threat from Punjab Sports Minister
Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Khokhar issued a massive warning for Shah in a public press gathering. Speaking to Khel Shel, Khokhar strongly reprimanded Shah’s tweet against Maryam Nawaz.
“If you say that this falls under freedom of speech, that you can speak like this about your Chief Executive of the province, and say such things at a moment when your nation and your community need you the most, and that you spoke about that woman because of whom today the sisters of Naseem Shah and Faisal Khokhar, and everyone else, are safe, then it is because of that woman that they are safe,” Khokhar said.
Khokhar then went on to further threaten the Pakistan pacer on his punishment while stating that he does not deserve to be in the national cricket team due to his attitude towards the administrators.
“If I were in their place, believe me, Mohsin Naqvi has shown great humility. He has been lenient. If I were there, believe me, I would have given a much stricter punishment.
He does not deserve to be in the cricket team. Look, he is a great player, and he plays very well; we will not say that he is not good. But one must control their language. This is inappropriate. If he does not control it, he will be out of the cricket team,” Khokhar concluded.
Rawalpindiz star left PSL 2026?
Interestingly, Shah, one of the leading pacers in Rawalpindiz lineup for PSL 2026, last featured in the tournament on April 2. He did not participate in the April 4 contest between Rawalpindiz and Islamabad United after he was sanctioned with a 20 million fine.
So far, from the two matches he has played in the Pakistan Super League, he has taken one wicket while conceding 77 runs at an economy rate of 12.16.
Whether Naseem Shah will return to play in the tournament or not remains a question to be answered, given the fact that viral footage of him leaving the training nets soon after receiving the ban has sparked curiosity over his participation for the rest of the matches.
Nevertheless, on April 6, Rawalpindiz will again face Multan Sultans for their fourth match of the tournament, as they struggle in seventh position on the points table, having lost all three of their matches so far.
Also Read- Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians Availability For Further IPL Participation Out
