PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is facing growing concerns over multiple issues around the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with reports suggesting the Pakistan Cricket Board chief is particularly upset about a hotel-security incident involving Lahore Qalandars players.
The situation comes at a time when PSL 2026 is already being conducted under restrictions. Matches in Lahore are being held without spectators, and the tournament is running with fewer venues due to fuel and travel issues in Pakistan linked to the West Asia crisis. The PCB had put measures in place to manage the event, but the league has seen multiple controversies in quick succession.
The hotel-security issue had surfaced earlier. Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza were accused of breaching security rules at the team hotel in Lahore by allowing visitors into a room despite objections from security staff. The incident raised questions over discipline and arrangements in a tournament where security was a key focus.
A PCB source was quoted by news agency PTI as saying: “(PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is not happy in particular about the hotel incident since the PCB is taking great care to ensure the event is held without an incident and has even disallowed spectators for the league matches at the Gaddafi stadium for the time being.”
The pressure increased further after a ball tampering controversy during Lahore’s match against Karachi Kings on Sunday. Just before the final over of Karachi’s chase, with 14 runs needed, umpires checked the ball and ruled that its condition had been changed. A five-run penalty was imposed on Lahore and the ball was replaced, reducing the target to nine. Karachi went on to win by four wickets with three balls remaining.
The matter escalated after Lahore batter Fakhar Zaman was charged with a Level 3 offence under the PSL Code of Conduct for allegedly altering the ball. Fakhar denied the charge during a hearing before match referee Roshan Mahanama. Shaheen later said the franchise would review the footage and distanced himself from the incident.
For the PCB, the concern now extends beyond a single match. The focus is on the attention the league is receiving. “The board is unhappy about the PSL gaining traction for the wrong reasons, starting with the incident of the ball colour turning pink during the first match of the league,” the source added, as cited by news agency PTI.
The PSL season had already started with limited venues and restricted crowd access, with fans asked to watch from home. The hotel-security issue and the ball-tampering allegation have now added to the challenges the board was trying to avoid.