LAHORE/KARACHI — Pakistan pacer Salman Mirza has issued a formal legal notice against ARY News and its journalist Shahid Hashmi following the broadcast of what he has described as “false, malicious, and highly defamatory” reports alleging misconduct during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 .
The controversy began in early March when reports emerged claiming that a Pakistan cricketer had misbehaved with a female hotel staff member at the Golden Crown Hotel in Kandy before Pakistan’s final Super 8 match against Sri Lanka . While initial reports from Telecom Asia Sport did not name the player, ARY News and journalist Shahid Hashmi subsequently aired the story, specifically identifying Mirza and showing his picture during the broadcast . The report alleged that the left-arm pacer had been fined by the team management for inappropriate behavior .
PCB’s Immediate Response
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) swiftly and categorically rejected the allegations. In an official statement, the board condemned the broadcast as “unverified and misleading information” and viewed the act as “malicious and irresponsible journalism” . The PCB further stated on its official X account: “Agenda-driven fake news targeting the character of our players is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The reporter must publicly apologise without delay; failing which, the PCB will take all necessary steps to tackle such malicious content firmly and nip it in the bud” .
Mirza’s Denial and Legal Action
Mirza initially took to Instagram to denounce the reporting. “An absurd news is circulating in the media and I strongly condemn this sort of cheap journalism. Any media house can’t air any unverified news,” he wrote . He further stated: “#PakistanCricketBoard has already denied this baseless and fake news, and I’m going to take legal action against #ShahidHashmi (journalist) who works for ARY News. This sort of filthy reporting must be banned and #GovernmentofPakistan must take action against such people!” .
Following through on his warning, Mirza confirmed on March 12 that he had sent a legal notice to ARY News and Shahid Hashmi . According to sources, the legal notice highlights several key points :
- PCB’s Official Refutation: The PCB publicly refuted the allegations through its official channels, describing the report as malicious, fabricated, and completely baseless.
- No Incident Occurred: The notice emphasizes that no such incident took place, no fine was imposed, and the story was published without verification, causing reputational harm to Mirza, the PCB, and the Pakistan cricket team.
- Defamation and Mental Trauma: The notice alleges that the report was defamatory, portraying the pacer as disrespectful and unprofessional, thereby lowering his reputation in the eyes of the public and the cricketing community. It also highlights the mental trauma Mirza endured due to the made-up accusations .
- Demand for Content Removal: Mirza has reportedly warned the media house to remove all content that brings his name into disrepute .
About Salman Mirza
Mirza is a left-arm pacer who has represented Pakistan in 17 T20Is, including four matches in the T20 World Cup 2026, where he took four wickets at an impressive average of 15.25 . Despite Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the tournament at the Super 8 stage, Mirza’s individual performances were noted, including a three-wicket haul against the Netherlands .
The legal action represents a significant step by a Pakistani cricketer to challenge media reporting and protect his personal and professional reputation.
