(AFP Photo)
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided against granting No Objection Certificates (NOC) to Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi for their participation in the upcoming Global T20 Canada, scheduled to commence on July 25. Citing the upcoming hectic cricket schedule, the PCB announced that despite receiving NOC requests from the players, it was deemed inadvisable to approve them at this time.
“The PCB had received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi for the Global T20 event, amongst other players. After taking into consideration Pakistan’s busy and packed cricket calendar in the period from August 2024 to March 2025, which includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and following consultations with the three players as well as the national selection committee, it has been decided to decline their requests,” PCB said in a statement released on Friday.
“The three are all-format cricketers, and their services are expected to be required in the upcoming eight months during which Pakistan will play nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is. As such, and in line with the PCB’s workload management policy, it is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and the players that they skip the upcoming event in Canada so that they are in their best mental and physical shape for the season, which commences with the two-Test series against Bangladesh,” the statement added.
Previously, the board similarly withheld the NOC for star bowler Naseem Shah to join The Hundred, citing similar reasons. However, NOCs were granted to Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Nawaz, all of whom are integral members of the white-ball squads.
“The PCB has approved NOCs for Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Nawaz. The four players are predominantly white-ball cricketers, while Iftikhar and Nawaz are centrally contracted players,” the PCB stated.
Upcoming matches for Pakistan
Following a challenging T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA, Pakistan’s cricket team is gearing up for a busy schedule. They are scheduled to tour Bangladesh next month for a two-match Test series. Later in October, England will visit Pakistan for a three-match Test series. In November, Pakistan will host Australia for a series comprising three ODIs and an equal number of T20Is.
