PSL 2026: Sikandar Raza accepts responsibility for security breach, clears Afridi

Zimbabwe and Lahore Qalandars all-rounder Sikandar Raza has taken the blame for the security breach during his stay at the team hotel in the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026). Raza and his captain, Shaheen Afridi, were accused of bringing unauthorised visitors to the team hotel, according to the Punjab police.

However, Raza has taken the blame for the entire incident, absolving Afridi of any involvement in the matter. The duo reportedly brought four unknown men into the hotel, which Raza now claims to be his friends and family. He also mentioned that he wasn’t aware of the protocols, and Shaheen merely went to receive Raza’s guests upon his request.

"Shaheen didn't force anyone. My friends and family had come, and at my request, Shaheen helped them [come up to my room]. If these were the SOPs [that visitors weren't allowed into our rooms], I wasn't aware, and to some extent, Shaheen wasn't aware either. The culprit here is me, not Shaheen. He went down on my request, because it was my close family and friends; I didn't want to meet them in the business centre. We sat upstairs for 40 minutes,” Raza was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Punjab police wrote a letter to the PSL chief executive, Salman Naseer, accusing Afridi and Raza of violating security protocols and bringing four men into the team hotel despite being denied permission from PCB's security and anti-corruption manager and Naseer. The letter was also leaked on social media and revealed that the unknown guests stayed in Raza’s room for almost three hours, as opposed to his claim of 40 minutes.

Raza also denied any allegations of forcefully escorting his guests into the hotel despite resistance from the security personnel. He reiterated that Afridi had no involvement in the matter and was only acting on his request.

"We [the visitors and he] have been friends for 19 years. My wife and kids will also come to see me. Please don't forget that my family and relatives live here [and] I don't get to see [them] all year. Shaheen merely went down on my request. We requested a few members of the PCB, and what happened after that we'll look into it. But it was my call, not Shaheen's, and I know he didn't forcefully escort anyone because I was in the lift with him, too,” he added.

PCB's head of media, Umar Farooq, had also confirmed the incident and revealed that they’re in talks with PSL regarding the matter. In the letter, the Punjab police had urged PSL to take strict action on the matter to ensure no such incident is repeated in the future. However, PCB or PSL are yet to act on the matter or make a public statement on the matter.

Lahore Qalandars face ball tampering allegations

Meanwhile, Lahore lost their second fixture of the PSL 2026 against Karachi Kings by four wickets. Apart from the action on the field, the match made headlines due to ball-tampering allegations on Lahore, which played a decisive role in the game as Karachi were awarded five penalty runs at the start of the last over. In the aftermath of the incident, Lahore batter Fakhar Zaman could well face a ban for at least one match.