The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined fast bowler Naseem Shah 20 million Pakistani rupees (approximately $72,000) for a social media comment deemed a violation of its code of conduct. The comment, posted on the platform X, was a response to a user who had criticized Shah's bowling, to which Shah replied with a phrase interpreted as a derogatory reference to the user's mother, using the word 'Queen'.
Former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has publicly criticized the PCB's decision, calling the fine excessive and the disciplinary process unfair. In media interviews, Shehzad argued that while players should be held accountable, the punishment did not fit the nature of the online exchange.
The PCB stated that Shah's comment violated clauses related to bringing the board and the game into disrepute. The fine represents a significant portion of the player's central contract retainer. The incident has sparked debate within Pakistani cricket circles about the proportionality of the PCB's disciplinary actions.
