Pakistan’s star cricketers Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi have had their requests for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in the Global T20 Canada turned down by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), citing a congested international schedule.
This decision follows a similar denial of an NOC to Naseem Shah for The Hundred for the same reason.
“The PCB received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi, among other players, for the Global T20 event.
After reviewing Pakistan’s busy cricket calendar from August 2024 to March 2025, which includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and following consultations with the players and the national selection committee, it has been decided to decline their requests,” the PCB said in a statement.
“The three players are all-format cricketers whose services are expected to be required during the upcoming eight months.
Pakistan will play nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is in this period.
In line with the PCB’s workload management policy, it is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and the players to skip the upcoming event in Canada to ensure they are in peak mental and physical condition for the season, starting with the two-Test series against Bangladesh,” the statement added.
The Global T20 Canada is scheduled to run from July 25 to August 11.
Pakistan’s next international assignment is a tour of Bangladesh, featuring two Test matches from August 21 to September 3.
England will tour Pakistan in October for three Test matches, followed by Pakistan’s tour of Australia for three ODIs and three T20Is from November 4 to 18.
Pakistan will then have a limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe in November-December, followed by an all-format tour of South Africa from December 10 to January 7, including three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches.
West Indies will visit Pakistan in January for two Tests, and an ODI tri-series involving South Africa and New Zealand will be held in Pakistan in February, leading up to the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan’s season concludes with a limited-overs tour of New Zealand from March 16 to April 5, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs.
Meanwhile, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Nawaz have been granted NOCs.
“The PCB has approved NOCs for Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Nawaz.
The four players are predominantly white-ball cricketers, and Iftikhar and Nawaz are centrally contracted players,” the PCB stated.
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