The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined every player in the national team's 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup squad PKR 5 million (50 lakh) for their underwhelming performance, following elimination at the Super 8 stage. The penalties, initially conditional on reaching the semifinals, have drawn sharp criticism from former players Mohammad Amir and Shahid Afridi, as well as journalists like Jarrod Kimber and Osman Samiuddin.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), under chairman Mohsin Naqvi, imposed fines of PKR 5 million (approximately US$18,000) on each member of the squad after Pakistan's exit from the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Super 8 stage—the fourth consecutive major ICC event without semifinal progression. The fines were announced following a 61-run group-stage loss to India, with players informed they would be waived if the team advanced to the semifinals.
Pakistan advanced from the group stage with wins over the United States, Namibia, and the Netherlands but faltered in the Super 8s, losing to England, suffering a washout against New Zealand, and securing a narrow five-run victory over Sri Lanka that was insufficient due to net run rate. Captain Salman Agha acknowledged the issues, stating, “We have underperformed in the whole tournament. We are out of the semis due to our failure in decision-making in pressure situations.” Despite struggles, opener Sahibzada Farhan shone with a record 383 runs in six innings, including two centuries.
The fines, tied directly to poor on-field performance rather than discipline, are rare in modern cricket. Former fast bowler Mohammad Amir criticized the move on Haarna Mana Hai, warning against scapegoating players and urging penalties for selectors and administrators too. “If fines are the solution, apply them to everyone... Stop scapegoating players,” he said, also questioning fines for standouts like Farhan and Fakhar Zaman.
Shahid Afridi called the fines 'narrow-minded' and inadequate in a Samaa TV interview: “This is a small amount. What will you even do with 50 lakhs? It doesn’t even sound like a penalty.” He suggested demoting underperformers to first-class cricket for two years.
Journalist Jarrod Kimber slammed the PCB in a video: “What an extraordinary way to tell us that they know absolutely nothing about professional sport... amateur and so stupid.” He argued poor performance already affects earnings naturally. ESPNcricinfo's Osman Samiuddin noted on March 3, 2026, it’s unprecedented to fine solely for losses in white-ball cricket, where fines typically address indiscipline or corruption.
The PCB has not officially responded, but the decision highlights ongoing tensions in Pakistan cricket.
