Salman Mirza slams ARY news over ‘fake misconduct’ allegations, vows legal action after PCB denial

Pakistan pacer Salman Mirza has strongly reacted to a controversial report aired by ARY News, which accused him of alleged misconduct during Pakistan’s tour to Sri Lanka for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The report claimed that the left-arm fast bowler had been involved in inappropriate behaviour at the team hotel and that staff had lodged a formal complaint with Pakistan team management. According to the broadcast, the management had taken notice of the matter and reportedly imposed a fine on the player after a preliminary review.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board quickly dismissed the allegations, calling the report “baseless, misleading and irresponsible.” In an official statement, the board condemned the airing of unverified information and warned that it reserves the right to take action against those responsible for spreading false claims about national players.

Hours after the PCB’s response, Mirza himself broke his silence and announced that he would pursue legal action against the news outlet. In a strongly worded Facebook post, the pacer described the story as “absurd news” and criticised what he called “cheap journalism.”

“No media house has the right to broadcast unverified news,” Mirza wrote, adding that the PCB had already denied the allegations and that he would take the matter to court to defend his reputation.

The 26-year-old pacer, who has represented Pakistan in 17 T20 Internationals, also urged the Government of Pakistan to take strict action against individuals and organisations involved in spreading misinformation about athletes.

The controversy emerged shortly after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where the former champions failed to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive edition.

Despite the team’s early exit, the off-field dispute has now shifted attention to tensions between players and sections of the media, with Mirza determined to challenge what he calls “false accusations” through legal channels.