PCB Denies NOCs to Key Players for Global T20 Canada

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has declined No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan to participate in the Global T20 in Canada. The PCB announced this decision after discussions with the players and the selection committee.

This follows a recent refusal to grant Naseem Shah an NOC to play in The Hundred. Naseem was set to join Birmingham Phoenix on a deal worth GBP 125,000.

As previously reported by ESPNcricinfo, the PCB was anticipated to deny NOCs to these players due to their roles as all-format international cricketers and the demanding upcoming schedule. The PCB highlighted that between August 2024 and March 2025, the Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to play nine Tests as part of the ICC World Test Championship, the ICC Champions Trophy, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is. With all three cricketers involved in all formats, their availability is crucial for Pakistan over the next eight months.

The PCB's refusal to issue NOCs is linked to the players' need for international duty. While players like Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, and Asif Ali have received NOCs for various T20 tournaments, the PCB is focusing on preserving red-ball cricketers for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh in August. This decision to withdraw key players from the Canadian league and Naseem from The Hundred is significant. 

Last year's central contracts between the PCB and the players allowed participation in two overseas franchise tournaments per year, provided there were no clashes with international commitments. Although the contracts give the PCB the right to refuse NOCs if it benefits the Pakistan team, the current decision may cause dissatisfaction among the affected players and raise questions about the adherence to the contract's spirit. Afridi, for instance, expected to participate in the Global T20 Canada after pulling out from The Hundred last month.

Looking ahead, the PCB's stance on NOCs extends beyond the immediate leagues. Pakistan’s cricketing calendar from October 2024 to May 2025 is packed, including three home Tests against England, limited-overs series in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, a Test series in South Africa, home Tests against the West Indies, a home tri-series featuring South Africa and New Zealand, the home Champions Trophy, eight white-ball games in New Zealand, and the PSL. During this period, the PCB is unlikely to entertain NOC requests for all-format players due to the overlap with numerous T20 leagues.

Bangladesh is set to tour Pakistan in mid-August, with Tests scheduled in Rawalpindi and Karachi starting on August 21 and August 30, respectively.