Sikandar Raza has addressed allegations regarding a serious breach of security protocols during the ongoing PSL 2026. The controversy arose after reports claimed that both Raza and teammate Shaheen Afridi “forcefully escorted” four unauthorized guests into a player’s hotel room in Lahore on Saturday night, where they remained until 1:25 AM.
In a recent press conference, Raza denied the claims of forcefulness and defended his actions, stating that the visitors were his family and friends. He explained that in his previous four years of participating in the league, such meetings were permitted without restriction. Raza further stated that neither he nor Shaheen Afridi were aware of any updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that would prohibit these visits. According to Raza, the meeting lasted only 45 minutes rather than the three hours reported.
Despite his explanation, the incident has drawn the attention of local authorities. Muhammad Faisal, DIG (Operations, Lahore), has officially notified the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO, citing a serious violation of security measures. The police report asserts that the players hosted the guests despite prior warnings and refusals, marking a breach of the tournament’s code of conduct.
The security protocol breach coincides with the PSL 2026 tournament, which is currently being held behind closed doors. The expanded eight-team event, originally planned for six cities, was shifted to Lahore and Karachi at the last minute, heightening the emphasis on maintaining strict security and integrity for all participating players and personnel.