Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to grant Naseem Shah a No Objection Certificate (NOC), thereby barring him from participating in The Hundred League, which begins in the third week of July.
The 2024 season marks the fourth edition of The Hundred, a professional 100-ball cricket tournament featuring eight men’s and women’s cricket teams from major cities across England and Wales.
According to sources, the PCB’s refusal to issue the fast bowler an NOC is due to his ongoing fitness issues. This decision aims to safeguard the fast bowler from potential injuries and effectively manage his workload. With Pakistan’s upcoming cricket schedule packed with continuous matches, the PCB is cautious about Naseem’s fitness.
Consequently, Naseem Shah, who had secured a lucrative contract to play for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, has been withdrawn from the tournament. The young pacer was included in the £125,000 category, and his withdrawal from the league will result in a financial loss exceeding four crore Pakistani rupees.
PCB is unwilling to take any risks with Naseem’s fitness. Considering Pakistan’s hectic and continuous cricket schedule for the new season. Naseem Shah, who had signed a lucrative deal to play for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, has been pulled out of the tournament.
Pakistan is gearing up for a two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home scheduled for next month in August under the stewardship of red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie.
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