PCB Calls Reports Against Salman Mirza ‘Fake News’, Denies Misconduct Claims

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly denied allegations of misconduct involving Pakistan fast bowler Salman Mirza and a female hotel staff member during the ICC T20 World Cup. The board called the claims "baseless and fake news" and warned of possible action against those spreading unverified information.

The controversy began after media reports suggested that a Pakistan cricketer had been fined for inappropriate behaviour at a hotel in Sri Lanka during the tournament.

Reports Claim Incident in Kandy Hotel

According to a report published by Telecom Asia Sport, an unnamed Pakistan player was allegedly involved in misconduct with a female housekeeping staff member at a hotel in Kandy during the T20 World Cup.

The alleged incident was said to have taken place before Pakistan's final Super 8 match against Sri Lanka. The report claimed that the player behaved inappropriately, prompting the hotel staff member to raise an alarm.

Hotel staff reportedly intervened and brought the situation under control.

ARY News Names Salman Mirza

The controversy intensified when ARY News aired a report naming Salman Mirza as the player involved. The television channel also showed the cricketer's picture during its broadcast.

This prompted a strong reaction from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

PCB Calls Allegations "Baseless and Fake"

In an official statement, the PCB rejected the allegations and criticised the media outlet for broadcasting what it called unverified claims.

The board said it had taken serious notice of the report and described it as misleading journalism.

PCB officials also stated that the organisation reserves the right to take legal or other action against those responsible for spreading what it considers false information.
However, the statement did not clarify whether any other member of the Pakistan squad had been involved in the reported incident.

Claims About Internal Handling of the Matter

Some reports suggested that the matter had been brought to the attention of Pakistan's team manager, Naveed Cheema.

According to those claims, the hotel management had requested action against the player. It was also alleged that Cheema apologised to the hotel authorities on behalf of the player and imposed a fine to resolve the issue.

The PCB has not confirmed these claims.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup Campaign Ends Early

Pakistan's campaign in the 2026 T20 World Cup ended in disappointment after the team failed to qualify for the semifinals.

The side narrowly missed out on a place in the final four due to an unfavourable net run rate.

Following their exit from the tournament, members of the Pakistan squad returned home in batches on March 1 and 2.

Who Is Salman Mirza?

Salman Mirza is a left-arm fast bowler who rose to prominence through street tape-ball cricket in Lahore.

He has represented Pakistan in 17 T20 international matches and was part of the squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

During the tournament, Mirza played four matches and recorded his best performance against the Netherlands, taking three wickets for 24 runs.

PCB Warns Against Spreading Unverified Reports

The Pakistan Cricket Board emphasised that media organisations must verify information before publishing or broadcasting it.

Officials said spreading unverified allegations can damage the reputation of players and the sport.

The board reiterated its commitment to protecting its players from false accusations while maintaining discipline and professionalism within the team.