The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to grant No Objection Certificates (NOC) to its leading cricketers, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, for the upcoming Global T20 Canada 2024. The decision comes in light of a hectic schedule from August to March 2025, requiring careful workload management of the players.
PCB’s Decision Explained
According to a PCB press release on Friday, the board had received NOC requests from Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen for participation in the Global T20 event. After thorough consultations with the players and the national selection committee, it was concluded that their requests would be denied.
The statement highlighted the packed cricket calendar from August 2024 to March 2025, which includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The Demand on All-Format Cricketers
The PCB emphasized the crucial roles of these three all-format cricketers. Over the next eight months, Pakistan’s schedule comprises nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is. Their participation is essential to the team’s success in
Pakistan’s Busy Cricket Calendar
Earlier announcements revealed Pakistan’s busy schedule, including the return of the ODI tri-series format. In February, Pakistan will host New Zealand and South Africa in a four-match series at Multan, leading up to the Champions Trophy 2025. Additionally, Pakistan is set to travel for bilateral series in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa during this period.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Possible Disciplinary Action
Shaheen Shah Afridi might face disciplinary measures due to his non-cooperative behavior during the T20 World Cup 2024, co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. Reports from Geo News suggest that Shaheen did not engage in team discussions before crucial matches. Furthermore, he had a heated exchange with coach Mohammad Yousaf during a training session.
These actions could result in Shaheen missing Pakistan’s upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The situation underscores the importance of team cohesion and the potential consequences of disciplinary issues.
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