Sports
Rs20 million fine for a deleted tweet: The cost of irreverence? – Prism
Most are looking at the fiasco through the lens of Naseem Shah, the cricketer, but what about Shah, a citizen of Pakistan?
On March 30, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) slapped a Rs20 million fine on fast bowler Naseem Shah for a post that was promptly deleted from his X account, and for which he publicly apologised.
The tweet, posted from Shah’s official X account, had quote-tweeted the PCB’s post, which featured Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz being welcomed by the interior minister and the cricket board’s chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, at the opening ceremony of the Pakistan Super League.
Those who follow Shah on the social media platform saw the tweet and instantly knew trouble would follow. Within a short span of time, they saw the tweet disappear, followed by a new post clarifying that the account had been hacked.
Quick recovery of a hacked account, they thought.
The cricketer subsequently fired his social media manager and even tendered an apology via X. However, for a post that was probably up for all of 10 minutes and was followed by a disclaimer, the PCB issued a show-cause notice to Shah along with disciplinary proceedings and a whopping fine.
The board cited violations of various clauses of his central contract and social media code. The fine was estimated to be equivalent to eight months of the cricketer’s annual income and has since made global headlines.
Who posted?
One of the early questions raised amid the fiasco was whether the tweet was posted by Shah or his social media manager. If it was the former, why was the social media manager fired and blacklisted by the PCB? And if it was the social media manager who did it, why was the cricketer fined?
Whoever posted it — Shah, the manager, or a third party — liability typically lies with the account holder.
Over the past few years, it has become common practise for social media managers to run accounts or, at an organisational level, for multiple people to have access to and post from official accounts. But come time for heads to roll or consequences to set in, it is always the person in whose name it is who faces the music.
Sometimes things are done accidentally; the way many apps work is that you have to switch between your private account and the one you are managing, and this sometimes ends up in errors. But error or deliberate, either way, the consequences can be dire.
The cricketer vs the citizen
Much has been spoken about contractual violations committed by Shah, but what clauses exactly did he violate in this instance? The PCB did not elaborate.
Many argue that such a tweet should not have been posted from the fast bowler’s official account. As a professional cricketer, political leanings or views should not be expressed, they contend. This is yet another extension of the corporatisation of society, where people are expected to be apolitical or at least refrain from expressing their views. Many organisations police such expressions of employees as well, and the consequences result in punitive action.
There are some merits to codes of conduct and organisational policies with respect to official account management, and to maintain a respectful and safe work environment. But the organisational policing of expression through personal accounts that are public is a fine line.
Since October 7, 2024, many companies across the world have fired employees for expressing outrage against the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Should an individual not have the right to express their views? Is punitive action in response to it, because it goes against the leanings of the organisation or those running the show, justified?
While corporate codes are now the norm, embedded as the done thing in the collective psyche, they are antithetical to the social and political evolution of society and individuals. Political expression can be polarising and uncomfortable, but it is the very same expression that is also necessary to speak truth to power.
Most are looking at this through the lens of Shah, the cricketer, but what about Shah, a citizen of Pakistan? Is he not entitled to hold and express an opinion about not just a public figure but someone who is a government official?
There is much conjecture about Shah being spared a two-year ban instead. For what? A social media post about a public figure, simply asking why she is treated like royalty? Should an opinion — framed as a question, such as we read in the now-deleted tweet — be subjected to such censure or fine? Is a 20-million rupee fine not excessive and disproportionate?
Climate of silencing
The message the fine sends out, that too after an apology was tendered: fall in line, or else. Despite a retraction and public apology, he has been fined and made an example of for others, to not cross a line which has been drawn by the management. Clearly, Shah has been punished for a lack of deference that is required to be shown to those who wield power. You don’t question, you don’t criticise. And if you do, consequences ensue.
This feeds into the larger climate of silencing. While the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) has been the go-to tool, which fortunately for Naseem, was not brought into play in his case, it is time to also realise the risk punitive measures such as fines carry. Such censure and sanction essentially illustrate that expression on social media is cost-prohibitive and can put your career in jeopardy.
So far, we have been accustomed to action under Peca for social media expression. A summon. An FIR. Imaan and Hadi’s is the first conviction under the amended provisions for sharing comments on state policy. But fines also create a chilling effect.
Take also the example of Meesha Shafi. A sessions court in Lahore ordered her to pay a fine of Rs5 million to Ali Zafar for defaming him. The defamation suit was filed after she levelled harassment allegations against him on social media.
Meesha’s harassment case is still pending, the basis of this claim. Yet this is the case that has been decided first. The reaction to the verdict has been polarising, as expected. Some have taken to celebrating, saying this means exoneration for Zafar, while others caution that the verdict is a blow to victims and survivors, who will hesitate to speak up even more now about harassment and abuse, due to retaliatory defamation proceedings.
The cost of expression
The debate about the Punjab Defamation Act has also been reignited after the LHC started hearing petitions filed against the law two years ago, when it was enacted. Under the legislation, though a civil law, for a social media post, there will be proceedings before a tribunal, which can instruct not just that the post be removed but also sanction the entire account and impose fines ranging from Rs10-30 million for a single post.
The heads of these tribunals will be appointed by the provincial government. Recently, government officials publicly remarked that the law would be used against those peddling “fake news”, which simply goes to show the law intends to really protect the already powerful and shield them from public scrutiny and criticism, including on issues such as where public money is spent.
Another forum to watch out for is the recently notified Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), which replaces the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) under Peca.
Everyone is familiar with the ad hoc blocking of platforms carried out by the PTA over the years. The SMPRA will do the same, but more. It has been tasked with the enlistment of platforms — without any criteria specified — and a wide net has been cast due to the definition, which states that anyone who “manages an online information system” has to enlist. It can issue directions to block and remove content of course, and also initiate action for violations and prescribe fines, no limit for which has been specified, especially in relation to definitions added under the “unlawful and offensive content online” category, which includes “aspersions against any person including members of Judiciary; Armed Forces, Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) or a Provincial Assembly”.
Digital media is not free, unregulated and a free-for-all as many tend to claim. In Shah’s case, it has resulted in a hefty fine as a result of disciplinary action. In the case of others, expression has amounted to arrests, ongoing cases and convictions. This is the price put against not a crime, but criticism of public officials and state policy in Pakistan.
WAREGE: World champion Tadej Pogacar is happy that Olympic gold medallist Remco Evenepoel is making his Tour of Flanders debut this weekend.
Reigning champion Pogacar has started his year in sensational form, storming to victory in Strade Bianche and then pipping Briton Tom Pidcock to the line at Milan-San Remo, the first Monument of the season.
His victory there, meant that Pogacar is missing only Paris-Roubaix from his bid to complete the Monument Grand Slam, having won Flanders twice, Liege-Bastogne-Liege three times and the Giro di Lombardia five times.
The 27-year-old Slovenian will start Sunday’s race as the hot favourite, but Evenepoel’s surprise participation has ramped up expectations for year’s second of five Monuments.
“From my side, it’s good to have a rider like Remco always wanting to go from far… and always on the attack,” Pogacar said on Friday.
“We saw the last few races, he always goes for the win no matter what.
“He can do a really great race on Sunday. He’s in good shape and definitely a rider to look (out) for, for his long-range attacks, and just not (to) let him out of sight.”
Double Olympic champion Evenepoel is a similar rider to Pogacar, with both known for launching daring long-range solo attacks that just a few years ago would have been derided as suicide missions.
Evenepoel won the world championships in 2022 with a 25km solo breakaway having earlier in the year attacked solo 30km from the finish to win Liege-Bastogne-Liege, his first Monument success, and 44km out to win the Clasica San Sebastian.
Those, though, were dwarfed by the 80km-long solo attack Pogacar produced to win Strade Bianche in 2024.
“With Remco, you never know where he can go and he can attack in (the) most random places and you need to be careful,” added Pogacar.
“You can never let him go in the front with a couple of seconds because it’s almost impossible to catch him back because he’s so fast.”
‘Teams have finally realised’ — Long-range attacks have been a theme of the cobbled classics season, although they have rarely been successful.
Former world champion Mathieu van der Poel, who will be aiming for a record fourth Flanders victory on Sunday, just managed to hold on to win E3 Saxo Classic last week by a handful of seconds after breaking clear 42km from the finish.
But he and arch-rival Wout van Aert were caught a kilometre from the line two days later at In Flanders Fields after breaking clear of the field with 36km left.
And on Wednesday, Van Aert was just 100-metres away from glory when he was passed by a late-charging Filippo Ganna at Dwars door Vlaanderen after another daring break from 40km out.
“The teams maybe finally realised that if somebody attacks (with) 60km to go that there’s still time to reorganise themselves in the back and if you work together and (are) not just attacking each other over the climbs, there’s more chance to catch the guy in the lead,” said Pogacar.
“That’s what happened in Ghent (In Flanders Fields) or Dwars as well. There was a bigger group in the back that could cooperate and it was interesting to watch.”
But the four-time Tour de France winner, widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats, is not convinced that such chases would be so successful at Flanders, which at 278km is significantly longer than those other cobbled classics.
“Flanders is a very different race. It’s way longer and more demanding,” he said, although he added: “I’m not saying that I want to attack every race (with) 50km or 60km to go. We’ll see.”
Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2026
MANCHESTER: Liverpool face a daunting trip to Manchester City in the standout tie of the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend as Mohamed Salah seeks to end nine spectacular seasons at Anfield on a high.
Arsenal and Chelsea will expect to reach the semi-finals at Wembley against lower tier opposition, while West Ham United and Leeds put their battle for Premier League survival on hold in a bid to reach the last four.
The Reds have to get past City without injured goalkeeper Alisson Becker who will miss the Saturday’s clash and both legs of the Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain.
Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to deputise for Alisson at the Etihad.
City produced perhaps their best performance of the season to dominate Arsenal and win the League Cup final 2-0 before the international break.
They remain in the running to match their feat as the only English side to ever win the domestic treble of League Cup, FA Cup and Premier League in 2018/19.
Liverpool face a defining 10 days for their season and possibly Arne Slot’s future at Anfield.
Languishing fifth in the Premier League, the FA Cup and Champions League are the Reds’ only remaining hope of glory.
One positive for Liverpool is that their record signing Alexander Isak may be fit to play a part against City, though, having returned to training after breaking his leg in December.
“It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes,” Slot said of Isak on Friday.
“We will make sure we do the right thing in terms of building him up in minutes, but it’s a very good thing to have him on the training ground again.
“It would be even better to have him available for games, that’s for sure.”
After visiting the Etihad, Slot’s men face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals over two legs on April 8 and 14.
Despite leading Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title less than a year ago, Slot is under huge pressure to end a difficult second season on a high if he is to remain in the job.
The rest of Liverpool’s season will also be marked by a long farewell to Salah.
The Egyptian announced over the international break that he will leave at the end of the campaign having netted 255 goals so far for the club.
“Hopefully he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months where we still play for something special, but he will always leave this club as a legend,” said Slot.
Fernandez dropped
Meanwhile, Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed Enzo Fernandez would not be part of the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and next weekend’s Premier League game against City.
The Argentinian midfielder will miss Chelsea’s next two matches after he “crossed a line” with comments that cast doubt on his future at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old, linked with Real Madrid, fuelled speculation by telling a podcast he would like to live in the Spanish capital.
“I spoke with Enzo about an hour ago,” Rosenior said on Friday. “As a football club, with me as part of the decision, he won’t be available for tomorrow’s game or Manchester City next Sunday.
“It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way. I have got no bad words to say about him, but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build.”
Four consecutive defeats have plunged Rosenior’s future into doubt less than three months into his reign.
A Port Vale side rooted to the bottom of League One and headed for the fourth tier should still pose little problems for the Premier League giants.
But Vale have won as many games in the FA and League Cup this season (seven) as they have in 38 league games.
Premier League leaders Arsenal will also be in action on Saturday where Mikel Arteta’s team selection will be scrutinised at St. Mary’s after most of his key players pulled out of international duty with injuries.
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes were among the 10 Gunners’ to withdraw from action with their nations.
Arteta is seeking a reaction after Arsenal’s six-year wait for a trophy was prolonged by City at Wembley.
But they remain in pole position for a first Premier League title in 22 years and also have a favourable Champions League quarter-final draw against Sporting Lisbon.
Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2026
Sports
Mohammad Naeem, Parvez Hossain Emon star as Qalandars thrash Sultans in rain-hit PSL encounter – Sport
LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars produced a clinical all-round performance to register a commanding 20-run victory over Multan Sultans in a rain-reduced 13-over HBL Pakistan Super League match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a daunting 186, Multan Sultans stayed in the game through fighting contributions from Shan Masood and Ashton Turner but ultimately fell short, managing 165 for 5 in their allotted 13 overs.
The result was set up by a blistering Lahore batting display, led by Mohammad Naeem’s explosive half-century and a destructive opening stand with Parvez Hossain Emon.
Sultans elected to bowl first, perhaps hoping the early moisture and shortened format would favour their attack.
Instead, the decision proved costly as Qalandars’ openers launched a ferocious assault from the outset.
Mohammad Ismail’s opening over set the tone for Sultans’ woes, leaking 26 runs including two sets of five wides and three boundaries.
Naeem, in particularly aggressive mood, punished anything loose with powerful drives and pulls, while Parvez provided the perfect foil with clean striking and quick running.
The pair added 86 runs for the first wicket in just 5.1 overs, an extraordinary opening stand that left Multan reeling.
Naeem raced to 60 off 28 balls (four fours and as many sixes) with a swaggering display of power-hitting, while Emon smashed 45 off 19 deliveries, including five towering sixes.
Their partnership was marked by fearless strokeplay and relentless boundary-hunting that pushed the scoring rate above 17 runs per over in the early stages.
Even after Parvez’s dismissal — caught at deep mid-wicket off Ismail while attempting another big shot — Lahore maintained the momentum.
Abdullah Shafique joined the fray and continued the carnage with a brisk 33 off 14 balls (three fours and two sixes), including a monstrous six off Arafat Minhas. Naeem brought up his fifty in style before falling to a googly from Faisal Akram, caught at deep mid-wicket.
At 156 for 3 after 10 overs, the Qalandars were in full control. Rubin Hermann fell cheaply to Peter Siddle, but Sikandar Raza and Asif Ali chipped in with useful contributions.
Asif was run out for eight, while Raza remained not out on 13 off eight balls, striking two late boundaries. The innings featured 23 extras, including 14 wides that highlighted Multan’s wayward bowling.
Siddle was the pick of the Sultans’ bowlers, returning economical figures of 1-26 with clever variations and yorkers. Ismail claimed two wickets but leaked 47 runs in three overs, while the spinners — Mohammad Nawaz, Faisal and Arafat — were mercilessly punished, collectively conceding runs at over 15 an over.
Chasing a revised target of 186, Multan Sultans needed to score at nearly 14.5 runs per over — a monumental task against a potent Lahore attack.
Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi set a disciplined tone with the new ball, conceding just seven runs in the first over. Ubaid Shah and Mustafizur Rahman maintained the pressure with sharp bouncers and well-disguised slower balls. Steven Smith struck a couple of early boundaries but was bowled for nine by a perfect Shaheen delivery that clipped the top of off-stump.
Josh Philippe lasted only two deliveries before holing out to Shaheen at mid-off. Sahibzada Farhan provided some spark with 24 off 15 balls, including two sixes off the Lahore skipper, but Mustafizur removed him with a slower ball caught at long-on.
Shan then took charge in a dazzling display of timing and placement. The left-hander smashed 44 off just 18 balls, including seven boundaries and a six, repeatedly finding the mid-wicket and cover regions with wristy strokes. Ashton Turner complemented him well, rotating the strike and clearing the ropes when the opportunity arose.
Despite their best efforts, the asking rate continued to climb relentlessly. Mustafizur struck a crucial blow by trapping Masood lbw with a full-toss for 44. Turner battled on bravely, reaching a well-deserved fifty off 22 balls with two fours and five sixes, launching several clean hits down the ground and over midwicket.
Arafat added late entertainment with a quick 25 off 11 balls, including two sixes, but Raza had him caught in the deep in the final over. Turner remained unbeaten on 52 off 22, but it was not enough as Multan finished 20 runs short.
Mustafizur was the most successful bowler for Lahore with 2-37 in three overs, his cutters proving particularly effective in the middle phase. Shaheen Shah, Ubaid and Raza each claimed one wicket, while Haris Rauf and the rest maintained tight lines under pressure.
The victory highlighted Lahore Qalandars’ batting firepower and bowling discipline in testing conditions. Their openers’ explosive start created an insurmountable platform, while the bowlers executed their plans with precision. For Multan Sultans, the defeat exposed vulnerabilities in their bowling resources and execution under scoreboard pressure, despite the spirited resistance shown by Shan and Turner.
Lahore will draw immense confidence from this dominant home performance, while Multan will need to regroup swiftly and address their bowling depth ahead of their next outing.
Scoreboard
LAHORE QALANDARS:
Mohammad Naeem c Arafat b Faisal 60
Parvez Hossain c Nawaz b Ismail 45
Abdullah Shafique c Smith b Ismail 33
Rubin Hermann b Siddle 3
Sikandar Raza not out 13
Asif Ali run out 8
Shaheen Shah Afridi not out 0
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, NB-2, W-14) 23
TOTAL (for five wickets, 13 overs) 185
DID NOT BAT: Haseebullah Khan, Haris Rauf, Ubaid Shah, Mustafizur Rahman
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-86 (Parvez), 2-144 (Abdullah), 3-156 (Naeem), 4-164 (Hermann), 5-177 (Asif)
BOWLING: Ismail 3-0-47-2 (3w), Siddle 3-0-26-1 (1w), Wasim 3-0-33-0 (2w), Nawaz 1-0-19-0, Faisal 2-0-31-1, Arafat 1-0-22-0 (2nb)
MULTAN SULTANS:
Sahibzada Farhan c Abdullah b Mustafizur 24
Steven Smith b Shaheen 9
Josh Philippe c Shaheen b Ubaid 1
Shan Masood lbw b Mustafizur 44
Ashton Turner not out 52
Arafat Minhas c (sub) b Raza 25
Mohammad Nawaz not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-6, NB-1) 9
TOTAL (for four wickets, 13 overs) 165
DID NOT BAT: Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Ismail, Faisal Akram
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17 (Smith), 2-18 (Philippe), 3-50 (Sahibzada), 4-100 (Shan), 5-157 (Arafat)
BOWLING: Shaheen 3-0-32-1 (1w), Ubaid 3-0-34-1, Mustafizur 3-0-37-2 (1w), Raza 2-0-2, Haris 2-0-26-0
RESULT: Lahore Qalandars won by 20 runs.
Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2026
Rs20 million fine for a deleted tweet: The cost of irreverence? – Prism
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