Ahmed Shehzad accuses PCB of favoritism

He says the board issue NOCs to their like-minded players

Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for handling No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players wishing to participate in foreign leagues.

In a recent interview at a local sports platform, Shehzad accused the PCB of favoritism and unfair practices, which he believes are detrimental to Pakistan’s players and the sport.

“In Pakistan cricket, the process of obtaining and granting NOCs (No Objection Certificates) has never been smooth. There is a lot of favoritism involved. Within the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board), favoritism is rampant even in these matters. They issue NOCs to their like-minded players or those who have some influence. When they want to unnecessarily hassle someone, they withhold their NOC,” Shehzad said.

The opening batter specifically questioned the decision to grant Shadab Khan an NOC despite his poor performance, suggesting possible favoritism within the PCB’s decision-making ranks.

“Can you tell me why you granted Shadab a NOC? He delivered the worst performance as soon as he arrived, yet you immediately gave him a NOC. Are some of his people or friends among the decision-makers in the PCB? What is the reason behind it, and why are you withholding NOCs from others? Why are you stopping others? And first, tell me, who gave your selectors permission to go play in leagues after such performances? The point is that you cannot stop people from playing in leagues. Instead of stopping people from playing in leagues, you should correct your direction and make your decisions. Leagues invite only those players who regularly play on the Pakistan team. If you have an issue with someone or any personal matters, sort them out and fix the team. Give youngsters a chance,” he said.

The issue of NOCs recently came to the fore with the PCB’s refusal to grant fast-bowler Naseem Shah permission to participate in The Hundred League, which is set to begin in the third week of July.

Sources indicate that the PCB’s decision was influenced by Shah’s ongoing fitness issues. The board aims to protect the young pacer from potential injuries and manage his workload effectively.

This decision, however, cost Shah financially, as he had been included in the £125,000 category, translating to a financial loss of over four crore rupees.

Furthermore, the PCB declined NOCs for key players such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Babar Azam for the Global T20 League Canada, starting on July 25. The primary reason cited for this decision is workload management.