Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday (May 23) expelled Naseem Shah from the Abu Dhabi leg of the PSL 2021 after the young pacer violated the tournament's COVID-19 protocols.

Naseem, 18, arrived at a team hotel in Lahore with an outdated negative COVID-19 test and the PCB reprimanded him for the same.

See Also: 'I respect Virat Kohli but don’t fear him', says Naseem Shah

According to PCB’s protocols, all the players travelling to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (May 26) need to present a negative COVID-19 report, acquired not more than 48 hours prior to arrival at the team hotel.

Shah came up with a negative report on Monday from a test that was carried out on May 18.

“The PCB doesn’t take any pride in releasing a young fast bowler from its marquee event, but if we will ignore this breach, then we will potentially put at risk the entire event,” said PCB’s director commercial Babar Hamid in a statement.

Hamid, who also heads the PSL, said that Shah’s expulsion from the event “will also send out a loud and clear message to all involved in the remaining matches that the PCB will not compromise on any violations and will expel the player or player support personnel irrespective of his stature and standing in the game if they are found to be flouting the prescribed protocols or regulations.”

Naseem Shah was due to turn up for Quetta Gladiators in the remainder of PSL 2021 next month. He became a household name after claiming a Test hat trick at the age of 16 (youngest ever) against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi last year. In 9 Tests so far, Shah has taken 20 wickets so far.

While PSL franchises are scheduled to depart for Abu Dhabi this week, the PCB has not yet released the schedule of the remaining 20 games.

The 6th edition of Pakistan Super League was postponed in March due to positive COVID-19 cases in bio-bubbles.

(Inputs from Associated Press)