Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah has clarified that a controversial post from his official X account concerning Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was the result of a hacking incident. He emphasized that the message did not represent his views and confirmed his account has now been secured.
The incident occurred during the opening match of the 11th Pakistan Super League at Gaddafi Stadium, where Maryam Nawaz attended as the guest of honour. During the ceremony, Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the chief minister and introduced her to franchise owners and players from both teams. Maryam Nawaz extended her best wishes to the competing sides ahead of the tournament’s start.
Shortly after, a post from Naseem Shah’s X account attracted significant attention. The message, which appeared as a quote on a Pakistan Cricket Board post, questioned the reception given to the chief minister. This sparked widespread debate on social media before the post was deleted.
The remark quickly went viral, eliciting mixed reactions from fans and members of the cricket community. In response, Naseem Shah issued a statement explaining that his account had been compromised but has since been recovered, attributing the incident to a security breach rather than a deliberate comment.
Meanwhile, on the field, defending champions Lahore Qalandars began their PSL campaign with a commanding 69-run victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen. Batting first, Lahore posted a total of 199 for 6, highlighted by a 53-run half-century from Fakhar Zaman. Additional contributions from Mohammad Naeem, Haseebullah Khan, and Sikandar Raza helped set a strong target.
In reply, the Kingsmen were dismissed for 130 runs, with Lahore’s bowling attack delivering an impressive collective performance. Key bowlers Haris Rauf, Ubaid Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Mustafizur Rahman played crucial roles in securing the win.
