Unnamed Pakistan Player Reportedly Misbehaved with Female Hotel Staff in Sri Lanka During T20 World Cup

Despite rumors, Pakistan dismissed reports of a left-arm pacer being involved, specifically clearing Salman Mirza and Shaheen Afridi.

Unnamed Pakistan Player Reportedly Misbehaved with Female Hotel Staff in Sri Lanka During T20 World Cup

An unnamed Pakistan player has been accused of misbehaving with a female hotel staff in Sri Lanka. (via NDTV Sports)

In Short
  • A Pakistan player is accused of misbehaving with a female hotel staff member during the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.
  • The team manager attempted to resolve the incident internally and imposed a fine on the unnamed player.
  • The player may face further disciplinary action, including a long-term suspension from the national team.

A new scandal seems to have hit the Pakistan cricket team, with a player accused of misbehaving with a female hotel staff member during the team’s 2026 T20 World Cup campaign. The player behaved inappropriately during the team’s stay at a hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka. 

Pakistan’s underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign ended after they were eliminated from the Super Eight stages, finishing third in the race to the semi-finals. While both Pakistan and New Zealand finished with three points each in Group 2, the Kiwis went ahead on Net Run Rate. Against Sri Lanka, while Sahibzada Farhan‘s century helped Pakistan post 212/8, they ultimately fell short of the required margin to overcome the NRR deficit, winning only by five runs.

Apart from the administrative concerns that have emerged after the team’s exit, a new controversy has come to light, of a serious disciplinary breach. The incident took place on the eve of the team’s final Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka, which was played at the Palekelle International Stadium. With the team staying at Kandy’s Golden Crown Hotel, a player from the squad reportedly misbehaved with a female housekeeping staff member.

The staff member reportedly screamed for help, prompting other employees to rush to intervene. Pakistan team manager Naveed Cheema was informed about the incident, who attempted to settle the matter internally. Cheema even offered a formal apology to the hotel’s senior management, who had demanded strict action. He also imposed a hefty fine on the player, whose identity has not been revealed.

Certain media reports in Pakistan have claimed the offender to be a left-arm pacer, but the PCB quickly refuted the claims as ‘baseless’, threatening legal action. Conversely, the issue is far from over, with the ‘accused’ player expected to be summoned by Pakistan cricket’s disciplinary committee anytime soon for explanations. Beyond the initial fine, the player also faces the possibility of a long-term suspension from the national team. 

This off-field controversy intensifies the existing issues within the Pakistan team’s dressing room. Recent reports indicate a major feud between head coach Mike Hesson and the players, who have accused the coach of exerting excessive control over team strategy and decision-making.

Pakistan drop Babar Azam from ODI squad in surprise move ahead of Bangladesh series

Veteran Pakistan batter Babar Azam has been dropped from the ODI squad for the team’s upcoming tour to Bangladesh, starting March 11. Neither Azam nor Saim Ayub has been picked, despite the former being in good form in the 50-over format internationally.

Babar Azam Pakistan ODI dropped
Babar Azam has been dropped from Pakistan’s ODI squad for the upcoming Bangladesh tour. (via Sky Sports)

Pakistan cricket is in turmoil following the team’s 2026 T20 World Cup, with the pressure now on the selectors to pick a squad that wins its upcoming matches. However, Babar Azam has not been picked in the 15-member ODI squad that will be traveling to Bangladesh. The 31-year-old has been criticized for a slump in form, with him having managed just 91 runs in four matches at the T20 World Cup. 

Azam was picked in the WC squad, despite apprehensions that he might fail to perform after an ordinary debut BBL campaign. His exclusion from the 50-over format is, although surprising, given that he scored 102 runs in his last ODI against Sri Lanka. All-rounder Saim Ayub has also been dropped from the squad after an ordinary WC campaign, while Mohammad Rizwan retains his place in the One-Day squad. 

The team will be captained by Shaheen Afridi, and notably, the selectors have chosen six uncapped players, Sahibzada Farhan, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, and Shamyl Hussain. Five of them have excelled while playing for the Pakistan Shaheens.

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