A new wave of controversy has shaken the Pakistan Super League after Lahore Qalandars all-rounder Sikandar Raza and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi were accused of violating hotel security procedures. The allegation centres on claims that four “unauthorised” visitors managed to enter the team’s accommodation and reached the players’ room, prompting a police complaint and heightened scrutiny around how access was handled.
The dispute traces back to a Punjab police letter addressed to PSL chief executive Salman Naseer. In the document, Raza and Afridi were said to have “forcibly escorted” the visitors into the hotel space, despite security staff reportedly rejecting the requests earlier.
Raza, however, dismissed the accusations outright and offered a different version of events. He said the four visitors were his long-standing friends and family members, and that Shaheen’s role was limited to helping at his request. “Shaheen did not force anyone,” Raza said. “My friends and family had come, and at my request, Shaheen helped them [come up to my room]. If these were the SOPs, I wasn’t aware, and to some extent, Shaheen was not aware either. The culprit here is me, not Shaheen. He went down on my request because it was my close family and friends; I did not want to meet them in the business centre. We sat upstairs for 40 minutes.”
Raza also highlighted the personal circumstances behind the meeting. He noted that he has known the visitors for 19 years and that he seldom gets time with his family. He added that his children were also part of the group that came to see him. “Please do not forget that my family and relatives live here, and I do not get to see them all year,” he said. In his account, Afridi did not act independently and simply followed instructions given by the team’s player.
Contradicting Raza’s timeline and explanation, the police letter stated that the proper approvals were pursued through the PCB security manager and the Qalandars’ liaison officer, but those permissions were denied. The complaint claimed that the denials were disregarded, and that the visitors remained in the room for three hours—an assertion that runs against Raza’s claim that the interaction lasted about 40 minutes.
Several sources linked to Lahore Qalandars acknowledged that the incident took place, but pushed back on the “forced entry” element. Meanwhile, PCB’s media head Umar Farooq confirmed that the board is aware of the matter and is in contact with the PSL. The police have also urged the league to revisit its procedures and ensure similar situations do not recur in future.
