Dubai: Sikandar Raza has accepted full responsibility for a long security lapse Pakistan Super League who allowed unauthorized persons into his hotel room.
of Lahore Qalandars The all-rounder made it clear that captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was not at fault, saying the offense only happened because of his actions.
Sikandar Raza spoke about the breach of security protocol incident#KKvsLQ #PSL11 #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/2iiRSkpg45
— Urooj Jawed (@uroojjawed12) March 29, 2026
The incident took place on Saturday evening when four visitors were brought to Raza’s room despite objections from security staff. The Punjab Police had initially alleged that Raza and Afridi had forcibly escorted the guests to the security checkpoints.
Raza denied these claims and took full responsibility. He explained that the visitors were close friends and family and that Afridi had only helped them at his request.
“The responsibility is on me, not on Shaheen,” Raza said. “My friends and family were visiting, and I asked him to help them up. He only came down because I asked him to.”
Strict rules
Raza added that he has known the visitors for nearly two decades and admitted that he was unaware of the strict rules barring guests from players’ rooms. He also dismissed claims that Afridi forced his way through security, insisting that the two escorted visitors together.
“Shaheen didn’t force anyone – I was with him in the lift,” he clarified. He further noted that the group spent about 40 minutes together, contradicting the police report that suggested a three-hour meeting.
Security remains a top priority in the PSL, especially since the tournament’s return to Pakistan. This season is being held behind closed doors, officially due to energy conservation measures, and player accommodation is tightly controlled with multiple layers of security.
In a letter to PSL CEO Salman Naseer, the Punjab police described the episode as a serious breach of established protocols, noting that permission for the visitors was denied twice – first by the PCB’s security manager and then by Naseer himself.
The controversy comes at a difficult time for Lahore Qalandars, who were already under scrutiny following a ball-tampering incident in their loss to Karachi Kings. Fakhar Zaman could face a one- or two-match ban for allegedly tampering with the ball.
