Babar, Shaheen, Rizwan denied NOCs for GT20 league due to Bangladesh series

Several Pakistan stars like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi have been denied NOCs by the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board). All three players requested NOCs for the GT20 (Global T20 Canada). The denial came through after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that the national commitments should always come first.

Naqvi announced that the players who are seeking NOCs for domestic leagues will be denied due to the Test series that is on the horizon. The changes in protocol were announced after Pakistan’s continued subpar showings in major tournaments. 

The Men in Green recently crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2024 from the group stages after losing clashes against India and the USA. While addressing journalists, Naqvi made it known that the selection committee will be held accountable at some level for the performances and set forth a new criteria for player performances in domestic cricket before their selection in the national team.

Mohsin Naqvi sets forth ground rules for Pakistan cricket

He also declared that players who do not participate in domestic cricket will be barred from playing internationally. Furthermore, no announcement was made about the change of captaincy of the side but the chairman did state that former cricketers would be involved in making the decision.

Mohsin Naqvi also talked about the recent incident involving star pacer Haris Rauf after a fan recently misbehaved with him while he was walking the streets of the USA with his family during the T20 World Cup. 

He revealed that the individual who harassed Rauf has been reported to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The decision was taken after the PCB announced that any misbehaviour towards the players will not be tolerated and severe actions will be taken against anyone who is found doing so. 

Furthermore, fitness was one of the most important topics that the PCB chairman discussed. Various fitness assessments, including the Yo-Yo test, have been made mandatory, and the players who meet the standards will only be allowed to play for the national team.