The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to issue No Objection Certificates (NOC) to star players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the Global T20 League in Canada.

According to a PCB spokesperson, this decision is due to the upcoming busy cricket schedule and the need to manage the workload of these key players.

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After “careful deliberation” with the national team management and selection committee, the PCB concluded that the trio’s participation in the Global T20 League would interfere with their national team commitments.

“The board received NOC requests from Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen but opted not to issue them because of the players’ extensive engagements over the next eight months,” said the spokesperson.

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi are crucial to Pakistan’s cricket team in all formats. Their absence in important national assignments would be significantly harmful, hence the PCB’s decision to prioritize national duties over foreign league participation.

The spokesperson also mentioned that this decision is in line with the PCB’s workload management policy, which ensures that players are fit and ready for national duty.

“It is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and the players themselves to focus on their responsibilities towards the national team,” he said.