The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently refused to issue no objection certificates (NOCs) to national cricketers for the upcoming Zim Afro T10 League, scheduled to begin in Harare on September 21.
According to reports, players including Shan Masood, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan, Sharjeel Khan, and Salman Irshad were selected for the tournament but were denied NOCs.
Shan Masood, Haider Ali, and Asif Ali are currently participating in the PCB Champions One Day Cup in Faisalabad, which is a key reason for the board’s decision. Additionally, PCB officials cited the lack of ICC approval for the Zim Afro T10 League as a reason for withholding NOCs, stating no Pakistani players would be allowed to participate without this approval.
If NOCs are not issued, only Mohammad Irfan and Salman Irshad would be eligible to play in the Zim Afro T10 League, as they are not under PCB contracts.
Meanwhile, a Zimbabwe Cricket official stated that the country’s board is already approved by the ICC, and no additional approval from the governing body is necessary.
Pakistan is set to face England in a three-match Test series, with the first Test scheduled for October 7 at Multan Cricket Stadium. Currently, Pakistan ranks eighth in the World Test Championship standings with 16 points.
After playing seven Tests, Pakistan has won two and lost five. With slim chances of reaching the WTC final, they will be hoping for a strong performance against England, especially following their recent upset against Bangladesh.
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