After Naseem Shah, PCB set to deny NOC to Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Rizwan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is anticipated to withhold No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from several key players for upcoming franchise tournaments, as per a report from ESPNCricinfo. This decision follows their denial of an NOC to Naseem Shah for The Hundred.

The report highlights that Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Babar Azam will be unavailable for the Global T20 League Canada, which starts on July 25, with workload management cited as the primary reason.

The PCB aims to ensure that its top players are well-rested ahead of a busy national schedule, including a two-match Test series against Bangladesh beginning on August 21.

The PCB's current stance on NOCs does not necessarily indicate a blanket refusal for all requests but is expected to predominantly affect players who are regulars across all formats.

This policy is projected to extend beyond the upcoming leagues due to Pakistan's packed cricket schedule from October 2024 to May 2025. Consequently, the PCB will not entertain NOC requests for all-format players during this period, which coincides with numerous T20 leagues.

According to the central contracts signed last year, players are allowed to participate in two overseas franchise leagues annually, provided there are no conflicting international commitments.