The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 started on March 26, and with that started the controversy. Pakistan's star bowler, Naseem Shah, has landed in trouble for making a comment on social media regarding the PM's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, who is also the CM of Punjab. 

After the comment went viral on social media, the Pakistan Cricket Board has stated the bowler, pointing out that he had violated both the terms of his central contract and media policy. They issued a show-cause notice to the star pacer. 

"Naseem Shah is required to provide a response within the stipulated time. The PCB remains committed to upholding professional standards, contractual obligations, and the integrity of the game," read the statement. 

See Also: Mohammad Yousuf suggests fan entry idea as PSL 2026 continues without crowds

What Kamran Akmal and Basit Ali said on Naseem Shah issue

Pakistan's former cricketers Kamran Akmal and Basit Ali urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take legit action against Naseem Shah for making unnecessary comments on PM Nawaz Sharif's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, after the first match of the PSL 2026. The former players mentioned that Naseem has already done such kind of things in the past and he should be punished for his actions. 

"Naseem Shah is a centrally contracted player. He has made these mistakes before. Action must be taken," said Basit Ali during the interaction. 

"PCB must take action against Naseem Shah," said Kamran Akmal.

🚨 KAMRAN AKMAL AND BASIT ALI DEMAND ACTION AGAINST NASEEM SHAH 🤯

"Naseem Shah is a centrally contracted player. He has done these mistakes before this. Action must be taken." - Basit Ali

"PCB must take action against Naseem Shah." - Kamran Akmalpic.twitter.com/tXacukHrem

— Abdullah. (@Abdullahh_56) March 28, 2026

Why Naseem Shah controversy escalated during PSL 2026

Pakistan's Star bowler Naseem Shah made a post on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during the opening match of the PSL 2026. The CM went to watch the match and received cordial treatment from the guests, which was the reason behind the tweet. Naseem went on to say, "Why is she being treated like the queen at Lords?" The tweet was deleted soon after it started surfacing on the internet.

He later released a statement saying that his account was hacked and it has been restored. "This account of Naseem was recently hacked but now recovered successfully,” he wrote. The pacer has landed in huge trouble because of the tweet. 

Former Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal came under fire for making sexual comments to him during an episode of Har Lamha Purjosh on ARY News, where he was a guest host with ex-teammate and former captain Shoaib Malik. The panel talk was supposed to cover the T20 Cricket World Cup that was happening but quickly changed to talk about Kamran’s clothes.

The situation started when Shoaib opened up the floor for one of his guests to make a comment, and instead of providing commentary on the World Cup or anything regarding the game, the panelist made a derogatory reference to Kamran’s pink jacket and said that if Kamran were wearing that in America, he would be referred to by other names. The reference was inappropriate and drew everyone's attention because it was not related to cricket and was inappropriate in nature.

In an effort to keep his composure, Akmal responded with comments about how he was wearing his jacket in Pakistan and that these types of remarks would not be tolerated at home, while also mentioning that in America people would probably refer to him as ”cute.” Viewers were left shocked when Malik chimed in to say that what was being said could also have been applied to Pakistan, which caused everyone in the studio to laugh and added to the furious backlash from fans on social media; videos of both players' antics became viral almost immediately.

Live insult of kamran akmal on har lamha purjosh set.. pic.twitter.com/HH41qZktnk

— Maaz (@IsThatMaaz) February 25, 2026

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On-Air Clashes Overshadow Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 Campaign

Heated exchanges between former cricketers are not a new occurrence during this year's T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 season, as there have been numerous examples of heated arguments between players from teams throughout the tournament. Just recently, former teammates Mohammad Hafeez and Saqlain Mushtaq had an intense discussion on Game On Hai on PTV News regarding Shadab Khan's performance; while Hafeez was questioning Shadab's place in the team, Saqlain was defending him.

In the meantime, Pakistan still has an outside chance to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals after New Zealand won its last match against Sri Lanka by a significant margin—which now means that for the Men in Green to qualify, they must defeat the West Indies by a large enough margin in their final Super-8 game and then hope for results from other Super-8 games to go their way. Qualifying for the semifinal will be quite difficult since we are now approaching the end of the tournament.

Pakistan'sformer T20 World Cup-winning side of the 2009 edition, Kamran Akmal, has requested the wicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan, of the Melbourne Renegades, to return from the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26. He wants Rizwan to take a stand against the franchise and return after retiring him out when he was batting on 26 off 23 balls. 

Kamran Akmal gave an example of their former captain and veteran batter, Younis Khan, who left the 2008 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) because he was benched by the Rajasthan Royals (RR), who eventually went on to the inaugural edition.

See Also: Former Punjab Kings (PBKS) player named in Canada’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad

“We have spoken at length on various shows and on YouTube about how Babar and Rizwan need to improve their strike rates. What happened to Rizwan has not only led to mockery across the world but has also created a sense of humiliation. Some people are even saying that Rizwan should leave the league and return home.” Rizwan expressed during his interaction on GTV Sports.

Kamran Akmal calls for Mohammad Rizwan's early BBL 2025/26 leave 

In his debut BBL season, Rizwan has notched up 167 runs in eight encounters at an average of 20.87 and a strike rate of 101.82, besides smashing just one six in the eight innings he was part of the tournament.

“During the first season of the IPL, Younis Khan was kept on the bench while playing alongside you for the Rajasthan Royals. He famously said, ‘I am the captain of Pakistan; I will not sit on the bench. You must send me back with respect. ‘We have seen players stand up for themselves like that. Absolutely, I also believe this should not have happened; he is our top player and a proven performer.” Akmal informed.

“Every country is now following the modern approach to cricket, so players need to develop themselves accordingly. Rizwan has been playing with the same mindset since the beginning of his T20 career. In Australia, the game is viewed through a specific tactical lens. We have seen similar moves being made in leagues like the ILT20 and the IPL.” The former wicket-keeper addressed.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal created quite a buzz ahead of the much-awaited India vs Pakistan contest in the Asia Cup 2025. Speaking on ARY News, Akmal believed that Pakistan would "shock" India when the two arch-rivals meet at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 14.

The highly charged Group A match is already expected among fans. India started their campaign with a convincing win over the UAE, while Pakistan will be aiming to stamp their authority in what is always regarded as one of the biggest matches in world cricket. Akmal recognized the highly competitive rivalry but advised both nations to enjoy the contest in the right way. On the field, Akmal said there is always going to be some aggression, but it can be done in a way that everyone enjoys in a positive spirit, without crossing the line.

Another exciting point is that the India vs Pakistan clash may represent a prelude to more matches later in the tournament, with both sides having a chance to meet again in the Super Four phase and possibly the final. The Asia Cup gives both teams one last chance to establish themselves before the ICC events next year.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Fans turn up in Dubai with Rohit Sharma's jersey during IND vs UAE Men's Asia Cup Match 2

India Squad (Asia Cup 2025)

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Sanju Samson†, Jitesh Sharma†, Rinku Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

Pakistan Squad (Asia Cup 2025)

Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris†, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

The squads boast a combination of youth and experience. India’s batting firepower, including Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill, will face Pakistan’s explosive pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. Fans will be riding high in Dubai with both teams getting ready for one of the highlights of the cricketing calendar in 2025.

In Match 11 of the 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL) at Headingley, Leeds, Pakistan Champions delivered a commanding display to defeat West Indies Champions by 49 runs. batting first, Pakistan put up a total of 200/4 on the board, a blistering knock of 113 from 62 balls by Kamran Akmal. Mohammad Hafeez added 23 of 18 balls, while Asif Ali (10 of 10) and Shoaib Malik (10 of 4) made late cameos to provide a massive finish. West Indies bowlers found it difficult to keep the runs in check, with Kieron Pollard (1/14), Ashley Nurse (1/21), and Dave Mohammed (1/29) among the wicket-takers.

In reply, the West Indies Champions never found the momentum to match the required rate. Chadwick Walton top-scored with 42 off 30 balls, while Dwayne Bravo and William Perkins scored 30 each. However, Pakistan’s bowlers were on point, with Rumman Raees producing an outstanding spell of 3/4 in 3 overs. Aamer Yamin (2/23) and Sohail Tanvir (2/24) also kept things tight. With this result, Pakistan jumped to third on the points table with 5 points and a net run rate of +0.900, while West Indies remained on 2 points with an NRR of -2.418.

WCL 2025 Points Table (After Match 11):

See Also: WCL 2025, Match 10: India Champions vs Australia Champions full match highlights

Top Performers – WCL 2025

Most Runs:

• AB de Villiers (SACH) – 182 runs, Avg 182.00, SR 214.12
• Chadwick Walton (WICH) – 152 runs, Avg 50.67, SR 149.02
• Kamran Akmal (PAKCH) – 138 runs, Avg 46.00, SR 162.35
• Chris Lynn (AUSCH) – 106 runs, Avg 53.00, SR 286.49
• Phil Mustard (ENGCH) – 101 runs, Avg 33.67, SR 117.44

Most Wickets:

• Fidel Edwards (WICH) – 6 wickets, Econ 6.40
• Piyush Chawla (INDCH) – 5 wickets, Econ 8.38
• Rumman Raees (PAKCH) – 5 wickets, Econ 3.89
• Aaron Phangiso (SACH) – 5 wickets, Econ 5.44
• Sohail Tanvir (PAKCH) – 5 wickets, Econ 7.80

In Headingley, Leeds, the Pakistan Champions made a clinical all-round performance and won Match 11 of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 by 49 runs against the West Indies Champions. Won the toss and chose to bat first; the Pakistan team scored a solid 200/4 in their 20 overs. Kamran Akmal stole the show with a fiery 113 off 62 balls, hitting 13 fours and 5 sixes. He anchored the innings superbly, ticking over the scoreboard in spite of constant bowling changes.

Pakistan  Champions Innings

The Champions' innings was dominated by Kamran Akmal, who played one of the best knocks of the tournament. His 113 formed the backbone of the innings, with good support provided by Mohammad Hafeez (23 from 18) and Sharjeel Khan (21 from 14). Lower down the order, Asif Ali contributed 10 off 10, and Shoaib Malik put the finishing touches with a pacey 10 off just 4 balls, which included a six. Despite some economical overs towards the end, the West Indies bowlers couldn't contain the flow of runs. Kieron Pollard (1/14 in 2), Ashley Nurse (1/21 in 2), and Dave Mohammed (1/29 in 4) were the wicket-takers but lacked support at the other end.

West Indies  Champions Innings

In response, the West Indies Champions found it hard to keep up the required run rate. Chadwick Walton gave hope with a fluent 42 off 30 balls, while Dwayne Bravo and William Perkins made 30 each. However, tight lines and constant pressure from Pakistan's bowlers kept the pursuit under control. Rumman Raees was impressive with returns of 3/4 in 3 overs, while Aamer Yamin (2/23) and Sohail Tanvir (2/24) prevented the middle order from settling. The West Indies finished on 151/7, falling well short of the target.

See Also: WCL 2025: Points Table, Leading run scorers and wicket takers after PAKCH vs WICH Match 11

Pakistan Champions vs West Indies Champions: Scorecard

Pakistan Champions – 200/4 (20 Overs)

West Indies Champions – 151/7 (20 Overs)

Pakistan Champions won against West Indies Champions by 49 runs . The main palyer of the game was Kamran Akmal, who scored a superb century and helped his team reach a good total to defend the score.

Batting first, Pakistan started well. Sharjeel Khan scoring 21 runs after he got out, Then Kamran Akmal took charge and played a great innings. He batted well and hit the ball to all along the ground. He scored 113 runs from just 62 balls, with 13 fours and 5 sixes. His knock gave Pakistan Champions a big total of 200 runs for 4 wickets in 20 overs. Mohammad Hafeez also added 23 runs, while Asif Ali and Shoaib Malik finished the innings strongly.

Chasing 201 runs, the West Indies Champions had a poor start. Mohammad Irfan Jr. Raees bowled brilliantly and took the early wickets of Dwayne Smith, Chris Gayle, and Lendl Simmons. That put the West Indies under a lot of pressure.

Chadwick Walton tried to fight back with 42 runs, and Dwayne Bravo was not out on 30, but the team could only reach 151 for 7 in their 20 overs. Pakistan’s bowlers did a great job and never allowed the West Indies batters to settle. It was a complete team performance. Player of the Match is Kamran Akmal for his brilliant 113-run knock. A strong win for Pakistan Champions, who now look like a team to watch in the WCL 2025 tournament.

ALSO READ: ENG vs IND 4th Test Day 4: Full Highlights and Scoreboard

Twitter reactions after PAKCH wins 11th match of WCL 2025

Beat England
Beat South Africa
Beat West Indies

Third consecutive win for Pakistan Champions in the WTC! 🇵🇰🔥 pic.twitter.com/rikOs5BHKj

— junaiz (@Cricjunaizdaily) July 26, 2025

Kamran Akmal 113(62) vs West Indies Champions, WCL 2025 - Headingley | Ball By Ball Highlights#WCL2025 | #WCL25 | @KamiAkmal23pic.twitter.com/WAGyKMU2Hi

— PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) July 26, 2025

Kamran Akmal 113 runs off 62 balls. What a world class innings in WCL #WCL25 #WCL2025 pic.twitter.com/EU7bl1EUsG

— Ahsan Shah 💚🇵🇰 (@ahsan_shah90) July 26, 2025

After losing the first two matches of the three-match T20I series, Pakistan has already lost the series to Bangladesh. Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has shared his disappointment.

Before the third and final match today (July 24), Akmal spoke on his YouTube channel. He said that the way both teams are playing now feels like a role reversal between the two nations.

"It looks like Bangladesh is playing like the old Pakistan team, and Pakistan is now looking like the Bangladesh of the past," Akmal said.

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Bangladesh Dominates First Two Matches

Bangladesh has outplayed Pakistan with both bat and ball in the first two T20Is of the series. They are showing great form after their recent series win against Sri Lanka. Now, they are aiming for a historic 3-0 whitewash at home—something Kamran Akmal believes is very possible.

“Pakistan will now play the third T20. The question is—can they avoid a whitewash? Bangladesh will give their best. They have played excellent cricket in the first two matches,” Akmal said.

Akmal Disappointed with Pakistan’s Performance

Akmal, who was once a key player in Pakistan’s limited-overs team, finds it hard to accept Pakistan’s poor form against a team they used to dominate. “The way Pakistan has played, everyone can see they have played really bad cricket. I didn’t expect Pakistan to lose a T20 series in Bangladesh like this,” he said.

“Losing all three matches would be a big setback for Pakistan cricket, but for Bangladesh, it would give a huge confidence boost.”

The two teams will face each other in the third and final T20I today. Bangladesh will try to complete a clean sweep, while Salman Ali Agha’s team will try to save their pride and avoid a whitewash.

When he used to play for the Pakistan side in the past, their wicket-keeper, Kamran Akmal, used to be a heated subject across three formats. Despite his incredible batting performance at the top order, Akmal was criticized regularly for several missed chances behind the stumps, including dropped catches, fumbles, stumpings, and many errors.

It used to overshadow his contributions with the bat. The long-standing story keeps going on during the recent opening game of the World Championship Legends (WCL) 2025 between Pakistan and England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Time away from international cricket could shield Akmal, whom the fans made a laughing stock of during his missed stumping chance.

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It was the sixth over of the home side’s chase when the veteran spin all-rounder, Shoaib Malik, came into the attack to bowl against the left-handed Phil Mustard. The southpaw used his feet to smash the ball outside the park, but the off-spinner’s delivery spun sharply and went past the outside edge of the bat, beating the opener completely.

Watch: Fans recall Pakistan legend's hilarious wicket-keeping during WCL 2025 clash

There was a loud cheer from the fielders and the bowler to stump the batter out. It should have been a comfortable chance for the keeper, but Akmal’s experience turned it into a costly blunder. He couldn’t read the ball and its turn and bounce, failing to grab the ball cleanly and correctly. The error allowed the batter to get a second life in the chase as he used it to celebrate a fine half-century.

Kamran Akmal doing what he does best! #PakistanCricket

pic.twitter.com/S3J4JQDlhI

— Usman (@jamilmusman_) July 18, 2025

Many fans laughed at the past instance of the team making such errors at the critical junctures of the game. It was, however, fortunate for the Pakistan side that the missed chances didn’t cost them much in the game. They held their nerve to seal a narrow five-run victory to start the camp on a positive note.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 160/9 in their 20 overs thanks to their captain, Mohammed Hafeez’s brilliant knock of 54 runs in 34 balls. His knock was crucial for the side before Aamer Yamin produced a quickfire cameo in the end, staying unbeaten on 27 runs in 13 balls. They will now face the India Champions at the same ground on July 20. It will be a thrilling contest between the two arch-rivals.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was seen correcting the ‘English’ of his compatriot on LIVE TV. The situation took place when the duo appeared for a discussion on Pakistan’s ARY News with the video going viral all over the internet.

Akhtar, who was talking to the host of a show on Pakistan’s ARY News, first praised Akmal. He said, “Kami is our match winner…he must be listening to this…he has played really well for Pakistan.”

Later, mocking Akmal’s accent, Akhtar said, “mai sun raha tha, ye bhi keh raha tha sakreen…sakreen ni hota hai screen hota hai (I heard him speak, he was saying ‘sakreen’…it’s screen and not sakreen)”.

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“You have to note these things, my intention was not to belittle Babar… he is a brand face…I want him to look that way,” he added.

“Babar is as big a player as Virat Kohli, if you see Virat’s video…he speaks fluently,” the 47-year-old said.

While in another show, Kamran also took a dig at Shoaib and said, “Jitne Babar ad kar rha hai, utne Shoaib Bhai bhi nhi kar rhe honge.” (The number of advertisement Babar is doing these days, I am sure Shoaib (Akhtar) must not be doing as many.)

He is our captain. The world knows him and he’s world’s number 1 player. He’s becoming better in speaking, media handling and everything he’s getting is due to the cricket he is playing. He’s doing fine there.”