Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen denied NOCs for Canada event

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued an update regarding player NOC requests for the upcoming Global T20 tournament in Canada.

The PCB received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi, among other players.

Considering Pakistan’s packed cricket schedule from August 2024 to March 2025—which includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025—the board has decided to decline their requests.

This decision was made in consultation with the players and the national selection committee.

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi are crucial all-format cricketers, expected to be heavily involved in Pakistan’s upcoming commitments, including nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is.

The PCB’s workload management policy aims to ensure that these players remain in optimal mental and physical condition for the season, starting with the two-Test series against Bangladesh.

Previously, the PCB had also declined a similar request from Naseem Shah for participation in The Hundred, citing the same reasons.

However, the PCB has approved NOCs for Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Nawaz.

These players primarily participate in white-ball cricket, with Iftikhar and Nawaz being centrally contracted.

Shami alleges selection bias by Kohli, Shastri

Indian fast bowler Mohammad Shami made a startling accusation against former captain Virat Kohli and ex-head coach Ravi Shastri.

In a recent interview at a local YouTube podcast, Shami claimed that the duo consciously ignored him during the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, despite his notable performance throughout the tournament.

Shami's performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup further underscored his abilities. He picked up 24 wickets in seven games while battling a heel injury, replacing the injured Hardik Pandya and finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

Unfortunately, his heel injury worsened, necessitating surgery abroad.

“In 2019, I did not play the first 4-5 games. In the next game, I took a hat-trick, then picked up a five-wicket haul and then four wickets in the next game," Shami said.

“I did not play in the first few games and then picked five, then four wickets and then a five-wicket haul again,” he added.

The right-arm pacer indirectly criticiSed Kohli and Shastri for ignoring him during the crucial 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Despite picking 13 wickets in three games and 14 overall in the tournament, he was left out of the knockout game.