PCB takes action against Naseem Shah over disgusting act in PSL 2024

Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has been fined 10% of his match fees for his aggressive behavioral conduct which saw him kick the stumps after Islamabad United’s 3-wicket win against Multan Sultans yesterday. It was a high-scoring thriller that absolutely went down the wire as the game was decided on the final delivery at the DKS Rawalpindi stadium.

Naseem Shah who missed the ICC Cricket World Cup last year in India due to a shoulder injury, kicked the LED stumps in the match where Islamabad sealed the victory. Naseem’s act happened during the heat of things, but it was not proper conduct according to cricketing rulebooks. And that’s why, he was ticketed 10% of his match fees.

Naseem Shah still struggling to pick wickets

Even if Naseem Shah didn’t have many reasons to kick the stumps, he still did last night. But something he should be focusing on doing is picking wickets for Islamabad United this season. Naseem has looked very ordinary with his bowling performance after 8 league matches. Though his economy rate has remained well below 8 (around 7), it’s his inability to take wickets this season, which is becoming a problem.

Naseem Shah has scalped 10 wickets from the 8 matches he has played for Islamabad at an average of just above 24. With the ICC T20 World Cup slated to start in June in the USA and West Indies, if Naseem remains out of form as he is right now then Pakistan will face a lot of problems.

His absence from the team during the 50-over World Cup had hindered the Green Army and it will be interesting to see how he operates in the T20 WC this summer. He hasn’t played any international game since getting ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023 where his participation against India remains as his last match for Pakistan.

Naseem Shah flops but Islamabad United win on the back of Colin Munro’s blistering knock

Moving on from Naseem Shah’s 10% fine, then it was Colin Munro who led from the front in Islamabad United’s 3-wicket victory. The Multan Sultans, after batting first, posted a target of 229 on the back of Yasir Khan’s 33 off 16, Rizwan’s 20 off 17, Usman Khan’s unbeaten 100, Johnson Charles’ 42 off 18 and short contributions from Iftikhar Ahmed and Chris Jordan.

Islamabad’s bowling line-up except for Naseem Shah and Imad Wasim was extremely expensive as they conceded more than 9 runs per over. Hunain Shah was the most expensive of them all, having leaked 29 runs from 2 overs. Tymal Mills and Shadab Khan conceded costly 52 runs each from all 4 overs.

In response, Islamabad got off to a crumbling start as Alex Hales departed in just the second ball of the 2nd innings while Agha Salman followed suit in the 4th ball of the 2nd over. Islamabad were 4/2 when number Shadab Khan walked in and he left the crease after an outstanding 141-run partnership with Munro, for 54 off 31.

Azam Khan remained a flop while Munro after doing some more damage left after scoring 84 off 40. Then it were the tailenders who pulled off the thriller in their favor as Haider Ali scored 19 off 13, Faheem Ashraf got 23 off 14 and Imad Wasim remained not out at 30 off 13 with all of them batting above a strike rate of 140. Naseem Shah also scored a run ball single.