Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and teammate Sikandar Raza have been accused of breaching security protocols during the Pakistan Super League by forcefully escorting four unauthorized visitors to their team hotel room, according to an ESPNcricinfo report. Pakistan’s Punjab Police described the incident as a serious breach of player security measures.
According to the report, the incident occurred on Saturday night when four visitors, allegedly known to Raz, spent approximately three hours in one of the players’ hotel rooms. This was despite express refusals from both the Pakistan Cricket Board’s security manager and PSL CEO Salman Naseer when permission was initially sought.
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The Lahore Qalandars were accused by Pakistan’s Punjab Police of “serious breach of established security protocols” after four unauthorized visitors gained access to the hotel floor where the team was staying. In a letter written by the Deputy Inspector General of Police and addressed to PSL CEO Naseer, Afridi and Raza were accused of “disregarding instructions” and “forcibly escorting” four visitors to the hotel room of one of the players on Saturday night, where they stayed for approximately three hours.
According to the letter cited in the ESPNcricinfo report, the players “disregarded instructions” and brought visitors past security personnel who tried to resist. The document, which has been widely circulated on social media, describes it as a clear breach of protocols designed to ensure player safety and preserve the integrity of the tournament.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the controversy started when the Qalandars liaison officer sought permission to visit Raza’s acquaintances. After the request was rejected, team owner Sameen Rana reportedly made a similar appeal to PSL CEO Naseer, which was also rejected on security grounds.
Despite these denials, the letter states that Afridi and Raza forcibly escorted the visitors to the hotel room, ignoring resistance from on-duty security personnel. Pakistan’s Punjab Police described the incident as a breach of established procedures designed to protect players and officials.
Lahore Qalandars head of media Umar Farooq confirmed that the franchise is aware of the incident and said that they are in communication with the PSL authorities regarding the matter.
The police letter concludes by calling for a review of the incident and calling for the necessary measures to be taken to prevent future violations. Security has been a top priority for the PSL since its return to Pakistan, with strict controls on player movement and access.
The night after the incident, Lahore Qalandars played their second match of the season against Karachi Kings. they won their opening match against Hyderabad Kingsmen.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
29 March 2026 21:38 IST
