Pakistan’s young cricketer Naseem Shah is facing doubts over his fitness, potentially jeopardizing his participation in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). Shah, who recently incurred a significant fine for remarks made on social media, suffered a side strain during a recent match, raising serious questions about his physical condition. This development comes on the heels of his injury during Pakistan’s 2026 T20 World Cup campaign and subsequent absence from the Bangladesh tour.
Sources indicate that concerns about Shah’s fitness and conduct have unsettled officials at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the medical panel. The 23-year-old cricketer is expected to undergo a rigorous rehabilitation program under the medical panel’s supervision. Despite a promising start to his career, highlighted by notable performances such as a hat-trick against Bangladesh in 2020, Shah’s progress has been hindered by off-field distractions and recurring fitness issues.
Shah’s off-field activities, including excessive involvement in advertisements and podcasts, have reportedly derailed his career trajectory. Notably, he missed the 2023 ODI World Cup due to fitness concerns, marking setbacks in his professional journey. The cricketer is set to face the medical panel, led by Dr. Javed Mughal, for evaluation in the coming days, as the selection committee expresses discontent over his frequent fitness setbacks.
In a recent incident, Shah was fined a record PKR 20 million (approx. USD 72000) for criticizing Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz, on social media. Initially claiming his account was hacked, Shah’s explanation was rejected by the PCB, resulting in the imposition of the hefty fine. Furthermore, he was downgraded to the ‘C’ category in players’ central contracts last year.
