The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which has been under a turmoil off late, has declined star Pakistani cricketers’ request for No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the upcoming Global T20 Canada. The T20 league, which will be played from July 25 till August 11, is set to feature several international cricketers.
But what comes as a massive blow, the Pakistan trio of Shaheen Afridi, skipper Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan have been denied NOCs for the upcoming T20 league. Moreover, this decision from the Pakistan board comes seeing packed cricketing calendar for the Men in Green. “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.
“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 further added.
Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Nawaz granted NOCs
While the three key players in the Pakistan cricketing setup have been denied PCB’s approval, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Nawaz have been granted the No Objection Certification (NOC) by the PCB.
“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’s statement read.
Speaking of Pakistan’s roster, their first international assignment after the T20 World Cup 2024 exit will be their tour of Bangladesh, which will be played from August 21 till September 3. Thereafter, England is set to tour Pakistan in October to play three Tests following which they will tour Australia for a limited overs series from November 4 to 18.
The Men in Green also have a limited overs tour of Zimbabwe, followed by an all-format tour of South Africa. They will also play West Indies and feature in a tri-series with South Africa and New Zealand before the Champions Trophy, which is set to be played in February – March 2025.