PCB has not issued NOC to Babar Azam yet, Shaheen Afridi says he is “not too reassured”

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and fast-break spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi are yet to get the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the country’s Cricket Board (PCB) to participate in the Global T20 Canada League. On Tuesday, the PCB issued NOCs to 12 players to participate in different leagues, but these three players, who are in the top group of the central contract, are still awaiting approval. “The PCB is unhappy with the status of the global league and has sought some information from the organisers and the ICC, which is why the issuance of NOCs has been delayed,” said a PCB official.

The Global T20 Canada League is scheduled to be held from July 25 to August 11, while Pakistan’s home Test series against Bangladesh will begin around August 19.

The players who received NOCs for different leagues include: Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan in the MLS from July 4 to 28, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan in the Sri Lanka Premier League which has started and will end on July 21, Fakhar Zaman in the Caribbean Premier League from August 29 to October 6, Usama Mir in the Hundred League from July 23 to August 20, and Mohammad Amir in county cricket.

Surprisingly, the PCB is yet to approve young players Saim Ayub and Azam Khan to play in the CPL.

Shadab, Salman and Hasnain have already arrived in Sri Lanka.

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