PCB Denies NOC to Several Players for Upcoming Franchise Tournaments

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to issue no-objection certificates (NOC) to several players for upcoming franchise tournaments. This decision follows the rejection of an NOC for Naseem Shah to participate in The Hundred.

According to a report by the cricket-based website Cricinfo, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Babar Azam will not be given NOCs to participate in the Global T20 League starting in Canada on July 25. The reason cited is workload management.

The PCB is being cautious to ensure that national team players get adequate rest before the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting on August 21.

Due to Pakistan's busy cricket schedule from October 2024 to May 2025, it is expected that the policy of not granting NOCs for franchise leagues will be expanded. Consequently, the PCB will not issue NOCs to players for any T20 league that coincides with the national team's schedule during this period.

According to last year's central contract, players are allowed to participate in two foreign franchise leagues per year, provided these leagues do not clash with the national team's schedule.