Key points:
- Pakistan’s top cricketers likely won’t get NOCs for Global T20 Canada due to PCB’s policy.
- PCB denied Naseem Shah an NOC for The Hundred, prioritizing national duties.
- Global T20 Canada awaits ICC approval, causing uncertainty for Pakistani players.
- PCB’s Mohsin Naqvi stressed NOCs depend on strict fitness and discipline criteria.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan are unlikely to receive a no-objection certificate (NOC) to participate in the upcoming Global T20 Canada league, sources revealed to Geo News on Friday.
Despite the Canadian league running from July 25 to August 11 without conflicting with any scheduled series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) maintains a strict policy against issuing NOCs to all-format players. This stance stems from the busy international schedule that these key players must adhere to, ensuring their availability and performance for national duties.
This development follows closely on the heels of the PCB’s decision to deny fast bowler Naseem Shah an NOC to play in The Hundred cricket league, citing similar reasons. The board’s unwavering policy highlights its commitment to prioritizing the national team’s preparations and performance over individual players’ participation in foreign leagues.
Adding to the uncertainty, sources indicated that the Global T20 Canada has not yet received approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to various unresolved issues. The PCB has stated that the formal decision regarding the players’ NOCs will only be made once the league secures ICC approval.
Besides Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, other Pakistani cricketers like Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, and Iftikhar Ahmed have contracts with the Global T20 Canada. However, their participation also hinges on the PCB’s final decision and the ICC’s approval of the league.
Earlier this week, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that NOCs would be issued based on a technical process that includes fitness and performance criteria.
“The players will be promoted on the basis of their fitness and performance. There’s no place for players who do not fit the criteria. There’ll also be no compromise on discipline,” said PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi
As the cricketing world waits for further updates, the PCB’s firm policies and the pending ICC approval continue to cast doubt on the participation of Pakistan’s star players in the Global T20 Canada league. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.