Pakistan blocks Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi’s participation in Global T20 Canada

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused to give No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to star players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the Global T20 League which is set to start on 25 July in Canada. The PCB said the players are denied NOCs due to Pakistan’s “busy and packed cricket calendar in the period from August 2024 to March 2025”.

“The PCB had received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi for the Global T20 event, amongst other players. After taking into consideration Pakistan’s busy and packed cricket calendar in the period from August 2024 to March 2025, which includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and following consultations with the three players as well as the national selection committee, it has been decided to decline their requests,” PCB said in a statement.

PCB added that the decision has been taken to manage the work load of the star players, who will be featuring in most of the international matches.

“The three are all-format cricketers and their services are expected to be required in the upcoming eight months during which Pakistan will play nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is,” the statement said.

“As such, and in line with the PCB’s workload management policy, it is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and the players that they skip the upcoming event in Canada so that they are in their best mental and physical shape for the season, which commences with the two-Test series against Bangladesh.” The board had also declined permission to Naseem Shah for The Hundred on the same grounds.

PCB has approved NOCs for Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Nawaz.