Rizwan, Babar, Shaheen's participation in GT20 Canada in limbo

PCB withholds NOCs for players, will decide on said issue after ICC's clarification on tournament's affiliation

By Sohail Imran

July 03, 2024

(From left to right) Pakistans Mohammad Rizwan, Barbar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. — AFP/Reuters/File — (From left to right) Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, Barbar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. — AFP/Reuters/File

LAHORE: In a setback for Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam, wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and star pacer Shaheen Afridi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has withheld the issuing of the no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the players' participation in Global T20 Canada League, sources told Geo News.

The sources say that the PCB has reached out to the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking their clarification on the issue of the tournament's affiliation.

The decision on issuing the NOCs will be made after the ICC's response on the matter, the sources added.

The development comes as several players had sought PCB's permission to participate in various cricket leagues across the world

A day earlier, 12 cricketers were issued the required NOCs for their participation in different leagues across the globe.

Some of the players from the list are Pakistan's central contract while the others have not played for the Green Shirts in a long time.

As many as seven Pakistani cricketers have been picked by various franchises in the Global T20 Canada League

This includes Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen, Asif Ali, Mohammad Amir, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz.

Babar, Asif, Amir and Rizwan have been picked by the Vancouver Knights, whereas Shaheen and Nawaz are going to represent Toronto Nationals and Iftikhar will be a part of Bangla Tigers Mississauga.