PCB Denies NOC To Key Pakistani Cricketers For Global T20 Canada

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that they have received NOC requests from key Pakistani cricketers players, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi, for the upcoming Global T20 tournament in Canada.

However, the PCB has granted NOCs to Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Nawaz. These players are primarily involved in white-ball cricket, with Iftikhar and Nawaz holding central contracts.

However, Pakistan’s busy cricket schedule from August 2024 to March 2025, which includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, is why the PCB has decided to deny these requests.

After consultation with the players and the national selection committee, the PCB concluded that the NOCs should be denied so that the key Pakistani cricketers can focus on international duty.

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi are key players in all formats. They are expected to play a significant role in Pakistan’s upcoming schedule, which includes nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is.

The PCB’s workload management policy is designed to keep these players in top mental and physical shape for the season, beginning with the two-Test series against Bangladesh.

In the past, the PCB also denied a similar request from Naseem Shah to participate in The Hundred, for the same reasons.

Pakistan will take on Bangladesh in a two-match home Test series that will commence on August 21 in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.