PCB forbids Babar Azam, Imad Wasim from playing cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has barred four top national cricketers from participating in any cricket match in the near future. The board certainly has cracked the whip on keeping their players fit and fresh for big matches. The board has reportedly prohibited Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Usman Shinwari, and Rumman Raees from playing any cricket match until they get medical clearances.

As per the recent reports in The Tribune, the PCB is concerned about the fitness of the above mentioned players. Along with these four cricketers, 8 other cricketers have also been asked not to participate in any cricket match until deemed medically fit. The reports suggest that Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Usman Shinwari, and Rumman Raees are all having slight niggles and are not completely fit at the moment.

Considering the plethora of matches coming up in the future, the decision from the board seems very much prudent. However, the board has been considerate enough for the cricketers who are willing to play in the Bangladesh Premier League. Conditional NOCs have been issued to those cricketers. It is a different story that the participation of Pakistani cricketers in BPL 2017 is in doldrums anyway.

Other developments

Meanwhile, in other developments, the PCB has asked all the cricketers to participate in the upcoming domestic T20 competition this year that commences in the second week of November. The board has issued special notices to skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, and other senior members to not participate in any other cricket match before the domestic T20 tournament.

The cricketers have been advised to take complete rest before the T20 competition gets underway. What this potentially means is that the domestic tournament, Quaid-e-Azam will be played without the participation of international stars for the time being. The big names can play in these fixtures after the conclusion of the domestic T20 competition.