Mohsin Naqvi and PCB issues stricter rules after PSL hotel security breach

Mohsin Naqvi's Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly tightened the rules for hotel visitors amid the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL). A few days ago, Lahore Qalandars’ Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sikandar Raza were accused of breaching rules for taking some guests into their hotel rooms without any prior notification. This incident raised major security concerns in the PSL.

Days after the incident, on Wednesday (April 1), it is reported that PCB has issued fresh guidelines to keep the security protocols intact. According to the latest reports, the board, headed by Mohsin Naqvi, has informed all of the PSL franchises and the players of the franchise league teams to provide the board with an advance notice, if they wish to have any guests in their hotel room.

Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB issued fresh guidelines to keep security tight in PSL 2026

"If you want to meet someone, inform us 24 hours in advance," according to the fresh directives sanctioned by Mohsin Naqvi's Pakistan Cricket Board. It is further reported that cricketers will be allowed to bring only their family members into their hotel room, after notifying the authorities about that.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Police accused the star players of the Lahore Qalandars of taking guests into their room without permission. Regarding this, the police issued a letter to PCB and the chief of the board Mohsin Naqvi, highlighting the seriousness of the matter as it was considered a breach of safety lines.

The board was requested to take serious steps to prevent such incidents in the future. The police also stated that despite repeated warnings and refusals, the guests remained in the hotel room till 1:25 a.m.

Sikandar Raza explained the whole incident

About the incident, the Zimbabwe international, Sikandar Raza, claimed that they were not well aware of the rule. Raza further claimed that the friends and family were brought to his room by Shaheen at his request.

"Sir, Shaheen didn't do anything like that. It's a very simple thing. The people who came to see me are my family. They are my blood. When you are away from home for months playing leagues, and your family comes to support you, you want to see them," Raza told a reporter when he was asked to explain the whole incident.

"We asked for permission—it wasn't like we tried to sneak them in. We went through the proper channels. We spoke to the liaison officer, and the owner [Sameen Rana] even spoke to the higher-ups. When you're told 'no' for your own family to come to your room for a few hours, it's frustrating," the Zimbabwe international said in a press conference.

Raza took further steps to support Afridi

In support of Shaheen Afridi, the experienced cricketer also stated that Afridi just walked into the room with the guests, and nobody was dragged into the room forcefully. He further said that as cricketers, they are well aware of anti-corruption rules, and they met with the family members, not with any strangers.

"Shaheen, as a captain and as a brother, stood by me. He didn't want me to be upset before a big game. We didn't 'force' anyone; we just walked with our guests to the room. We are professional cricketers, we know the anti-corruption protocols better than anyone. We weren't meeting strangers; we were meeting family," Raza clarified.

Read More: Fakhar Zaman takes legal action against Mohsin Naqvi and PCB over two-match PSL suspension