Pakistan cricket has been in fresh controversy after an unnamed squad member was reportedly fined for allegedly misbehaving with a female hotel staff member during the team’s stay in Kandy, Sri Lanka, during the T20 World Cup 2026, adding to the embarrassment of a disappointing campaign that saw them fail to reach the semifinals.
Incident at Golden Crown Hotel Before Sri Lanka Match
According to Telecom Asia Sport, the incident occurred at the Golden Crown Hotel shortly before Pakistan’s final Super Eight fixture against Sri Lanka.
“Before Pakistan’s last Super Eight match against Sri Lanka, a Pakistan World Cup squad player misbehaved with a female housekeeping staff member,” sources told the publication.
The report stated that the staff member “shouted and called for help, after which hotel staff came to her rescue and reported the matter to Pakistan team manager Naveed Cheema.”
Team Manager Issues Fine, Hotel Wanted Stronger Action
Senior officials at the Golden Crown Hotel reportedly demanded strong action against the player.
However, Cheema apologized to the hotel management on behalf of the cricketer and imposed a fine for the misconduct, settling the issue internally at the time.
While the player’s identity has not been revealed, the matter is far from closed. The individual is expected to face further scrutiny once back in Pakistan and could be summoned before the Pakistan Cricket Board’s disciplinary committee for additional punishment.
Context of Pakistan’s Disappointing Campaign
The controversy surfaced soon after Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
Despite defeating Sri Lanka by five runs in their final Super Eight match, Pakistan failed to reach the semifinals, missing out on the net run rate.
History of Misconduct on Tours
The incident has revived discussions around past controversies involving Pakistan touring squads.
The report noted that batter Haider Ali was arrested by Manchester Police last year during a Pakistan Shaheens tour of England over rape allegations before being released due to insufficient evidence.
In another earlier episode, team masseur Malang Ali was reportedly fined for misconduct with a female staff member during a tour of Malaysia.
The PCB has not issued an official statement regarding the latest incident as of now.
