Nawaz under PCB scrutiny after positive test
Mohammad Nawaz is under investigation by the Pakistan Cricket Board after returning a positive test for a banned substance, understood to be a recreational drug. The result dates back to testing conducted during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 earlier this year.
Reported by ESPNcricinfo, a PCB spokesperson confirmed that the International Cricket Council had informed them of the matter and that due process is underway. The board is expected to communicate its findings to the ICC shortly. Mohammad Nawaz has not made a public statement yet.
County deal collapses, uncertainty grows
The timing has already had consequences. Nawaz’s proposed move to Surrey County Cricket Club for the T20 Blast has fallen through. He had been granted a No-Objection Certificate by the PCB just two weeks ago and was expected to feature throughout the competition.
That plan is now off the table. Surrey have declined to comment, but the decision reflects the uncertainty around Nawaz’s situation. For a player with 98 T20Is, this raises a straightforward question, what comes next if the charge is upheld?
On the field, Nawaz had a modest T20 World Cup. He played all seven matches as Pakistan exited in the Super Eight stage, scoring 15 runs and taking seven wickets. He has continued to turn out in the PSL, featuring regularly for Multan Sultans.
Another disciplinary flashpoint for Pakistan cricket
This is not an isolated case. Earlier this season, Fakhar Zaman was handed a two-match ban during the Pakistan Super League 2026 for ball-tampering. The sanction, a Level 3 breach, was upheld on appeal, forcing him to miss fixtures on April 3 and April 9.
Set against that backdrop, Nawaz’s case adds to a growing list of off-field issues. The PCB now faces a test of consistency as much as discipline. How firmly it acts here will be watched closely, both at home and by the ICC.