Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi have been denied NOCs by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the upcoming season of the GT20.
The PCB has refused to issue no objection certificates (NOCs) to senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi for participating in the 2024 edition of the Global T20 League in Canada, starting from July 25.
A statement released by the board on Friday (Jul 19) clarified that the decision was taken due to Pakistan’s jam-packed international calendar ahead.
"The PCB had received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi for the Global T20 event, amongst other players," read the statement.
"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."
The decision not to grant NOCs to the star trio came a week after pacer Naseem Shah was denied the clearance to participate in the 2024 edition of The Hundred. Shah was picked by Birmingham Phoenix for a deal that would have seen him earn GBP 125,000.
The statement added: "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."
PCB statement on player NOCs⤵️ pic.twitter.com/l1KjyRtkzG
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 19, 2024
While the mainstays will prepare for the busy year, the apex body has approved NOCs for Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Nawaz.
After a disappointing 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s next assignment is a Test series against Bangladesh at home in August-September. They will next face England in a three-match Test series in their backyard, followed by three away ODIs and as many T20Is against Australia in November.
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