LAHORE: Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Khokhar has criticized fast bowler Naseem Shah, warning that the RawalPindiz pacer could risk losing his place in the national team if he does not “control his tongue.”
Speaking about the incident, Khokhar said the punishment handed to Naseem was already lenient and urged the player to be more cautious with his words and actions. “The fine on Naseem Shah is very generous. He’s a good player, but he should control his tongue. If he doesn’t, he will be out of the team,” Khokhar stated.
The controversy stems from a social media post allegedly shared from Naseem’s account during the PSL 11 opening ceremony, which criticized the heavy security protocol for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The post was later deleted, and Naseem issued an unconditional apology, claiming his account had been hacked and that the post was shared by a member of his management team without his approval.
Following the incident, Naseem parted ways with his social media adviser, who was subsequently blacklisted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PCB imposed a Rs. 20 million fine on Naseem and introduced stricter guidelines for players regarding future social media activity. The board emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism and avoiding conduct that could harm the sport’s reputation.
