Global T20 Canada 2024: Why PCB Has Not Granted NOC to Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi & Mohammad Rizwan?

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is going to be strict action against it's players after the T20 World Cup 2024 disappointment as the board has reportedly decided not to grant clearance to three of their star players to participate in the Global T20 Canada.

PCB chairman had suggested the team will undergo "major surgery" post the T20 World Cup in which Pakistan made a group stage exit following defeat to arch-rivals India after a surprise loss to USA.

As first part of their of the action to the disappointing performance at the show-piece tournament, PCB has reportedly punished Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan by denying them no objection certificates (NOC) to participate in franchise leagues.

On Tuesday (July 2), PCB granted NOC to 12 players to participate in various leagues and tournaments, including the Lanka Premier League (LPL), The Hundred, Major League Cricket, the County and World Championships of Legends.

Pakistan players who received NOC from PCB

• Abrar Ahmed - Major League Cricket - 4 to 28 July
• Fakhar Zaman - Caribbean Premier League - 29 August to 6 October
• Haris Rauf - Major League Cricket - 5 to 28 July
• Mohammad Amir - County Cricket - 4 to 20 July
• Mohammad Haris - Lanka Premier League - 1 to 21 July
• Mohammad Hasnain - Lanka Premier League - 1 to 21 July
• Salman Ali Agha - Lanka Premier League - 1 to 21 July
• Shadab Khan - Lanka Premier League - 1 to 21 July
• Sharjeel Khan - World Championship of Legends - 3 to 13 July
• Sohaib Maqsood - World Championship of Legends - 3 to 13 July
• Usama Mir - The Hundred - 23 July to 20 August
• Zaman Khan - Major League Cricket - 4 to 28 July

Going by the above list, it can be noted Shaheen, Babar and Rizwan have not been included. However, the trio, who have been signed up by teams in Global T20 Canada, could still be granted NOC along with the other Pakistan players once an important condition is fulfilled.

Not only Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan, but even the likes of Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali and Mohammad Nawaz have also not been included in the NOC list of PCB.

Amir, who has already featured in Bangladesh Premier League this season, though has been granted clearance to feature in County Cricket, meaning the left-arm pacer may not be given an NOC to play in the GT20 in Canada as PCB allows it's players to participated only in two overseas leagues in a year.

Why Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen have not yet received NOC for Global T20 Canada?

The PCB release clearly states that Global T20 is yet to be approved by the ICC. After the event receives the status of an Approved Event, the PCB will consider NOC requests from the players.

Another notable outcome of the NOC list is that the PCB has not provided clearance to young talents Saim Ayub and Azam Khan for their participation in the Caribbean Premier League.