Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohmmad Rizwan from left to right. (FILE)
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected the no-objection certificate (NOC) of Pakistan’s star players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the upcoming Global T20 Canada 2024 citing to packed schedule coming up from August to March 2025 of the country and the need for workload management of the players.
“The PCB had received NOC requests from Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen for the Global T20 event. Following consultations with the three players as well as the national selection committee, it has been decided to decline their requests,” the PCB quoted in a press release on Friday.
“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” the statement further added.
“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.”
Earlier, Pakistan have announced their busy schedule and they will welcome back the return of the ODI tri-series format next year when they host New Zealand and South Africa in a four-match tournament in February at Multan before the Champions Trophy 2025. In addition to home series, Pakistan will also travel to Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa for a bilateral series in this period.
Will Shaheen Shah Afridi play Bangladesh series?
Pakistan ace-pacer Shaheen may face disciplinary action for his non-cooperative attitude during the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024 co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA where The Men in Green were out of the competition in the group stage.
Allegedly the 24-year-old did not engage in team discussions ahead of the crucial games at the showpiece event according to Geo News. In addition to his attitude Shaheen also had a heated altercation with coach Mohammad Yousaf during one of the training sessions. Consequently, Shaheen might miss Pakistan’s upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
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