Naseem Shah to miss The Hundred 2024 as PCB's 'NOC' decision stuns Pakistan pacer
Published - 13 Jul 2024, 03:15 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:15 AM
Young Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah will not participate in the upcoming edition of The Hundred League, which is set to begin in the third week of July. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly refused to grant Naseem Shah a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for participating in The Hundred 2024.
The fourth edition of The Hundred will start on July 24, with the Birmingham Phoenix facing the Oval Invincibles in the opening match. The tournament features eight men's and women's teams from major cities in England and Wales. In The Hundred, each team plays 100 balls, consisting of five deliveries per over.
Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi denied No Objection Certificates to Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi to play in the Global T20 League in Canada. Mohsin Naqvi stated that players should prioritize national responsibilities over participating in foreign leagues.
Naseem Shah Denied NOC To Play In The Hundred 2024
Naseem Shah had signed a lucrative contract with Birmingham Phoenix to play in the upcoming season of The Hundred. The right-arm pacer was contracted for £125,000 by Birmingham Phoenix. According to the latest reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to grant him a NOC due to workload management.
According to local Pakistani news reports, the PCB made the decision to protect the fast bowler from potential injuries and manage his workload effectively. Geo News reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board took this preventive measure after reviewing Shah's application due to his ongoing fitness issues.
Naseem Shah underwent successful shoulder surgery in October 2023. Doctors advised a four- to six-week recovery and rehabilitation period. The young bowler was ruled out of the 2023 ODI World Cup, where Pakistan exited in the group stage. The injury kept him out of action for at least three to four months.
Shaheen Afridi Can Miss Bangladesh Test matches - Jason Gillespie
The Pakistan team has a busy cricket schedule for the new season. The Men in Green will face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting August 21. This series is part of their crucial World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. The team aims to perform well to boost their chances of reaching the final.
Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie suggested that Shaheen Shah Afridi might miss the Test series against Bangladesh due to his wife Ansha expecting their first child. Gillespie said that Afridi could be given rest to be with his family during this period.
“Shaheen can miss Bangaladesh Test matches due to childbirth. We can give him [some] rest if he wants to stay with his wife till then,” said Pakistan’s red-ball coach Jason Gillispie as quoted from Geo News.
Pakistan will play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The first Test match will take place in Rawalpindi from August 21-25, and the second Test will be played in Karachi from August 30 to September 3.
