The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a strategic decision to withhold No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi to participate in the upcoming Global T20 event in Canada. This choice comes following a thorough review of Pakistan’s packed cricketing calendar from August 2024 to March 2025.
During this period, Pakistan is slated to engage in nine ICC World Test Championship matches and will also compete in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Recognizing the critical role of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi in these forthcoming fixtures, the PCB consulted both the players and the national selection committee before arriving at this conclusion.
The PCB’s decision aligns with its commitment to managing player workloads effectively, ensuring optimal preparation and availability for the extensive schedule ahead. This includes nine Test matches, 14 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and nine Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), all of which are pivotal for Pakistan’s cricketing aspirations.
Furthermore, in a similar vein, the PCB has also declined Naseem Shah’s participation in The Hundred cricket tournament for analogous reasons, underlining their consistent approach to safeguarding player fitness and readiness for national duties.