Will Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi play in Global T20 Canada? Players await NOC from Pakistan Cricket Board | Sporting News India

The cricket world is eagerly waiting to see if Pakistan’s star players, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, will participate in the upcoming Global T20 Canada.

The league is set to run from July 25 to August 11. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet issued the No Objection Certificates (NOC) required for their participation.

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What is Pakistan Cricket Board’s stance on NOCs?

The PCB is hesitant to issue NOCs due to the busy schedule ahead for the national team. Pakistan will play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh starting on August 21, right after the Canadian league concludes. Sources told Geo News that despite the non-conflicting schedules, the PCB is not keen on granting NOCs.

The policy of the PCB is to not issue NOCs to players involved in all formats of the game. This policy ensures managing players’ workload and avoid injuries.

Recently, pacer Naseem Shah was also denied an NOC for The Hundred, a move seen as a preventive measure to keep him fit for future matches.

What is PCB chairman say about granting NOCs?

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi mentioned that NOCs would be given based on specific criteria related to fitness, performance, and discipline.

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“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,” Naqvi said.

Apart from Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, other Pakistani players like Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, and Iftikhar Ahmed also have contracts with the Global T20 Canada. Their participation is uncertain due to the PCB’s strict stance on NOCs.

In addition to the NOC issue, Shaheen Afridi might miss the Test series against Bangladesh due to personal reasons. According to Pakistan’s red-ball coach Jason Gillispie, Afridi may miss the series since his wife is expecting their first child.