|| CF DESK ||

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to deny No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from several key players for upcoming franchise tournaments, according to a report from ESPNCricinfo. This follows the PCB's recent denial of an NOC to Naseem Shah for The Hundred.

The report indicates that Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Babar Azam will be unavailable for the Global T20 League Canada, starting on July 25, due to workload management concerns.

The PCB's decision is aimed at ensuring its top players are well-rested ahead of a demanding national schedule, which includes a two-match Test series against Bangladesh beginning on August 21.

While the PCB's current stance on NOCs does not suggest a complete ban on all requests, it is expected to mainly affect players who are regulars in all formats.

This policy is likely to extend beyond the upcoming leagues, given Pakistan's packed cricket schedule from October 2024 to May 2025. As a result, the PCB will not entertain NOC requests for all-format players during this period, coinciding with numerous T20 leagues.

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