"Unfair distribution..." - Salman Butt drops bold remark on PCB's NOC dispute with players

Controversies and cricket in Pakistan go hand in hand and it’s not even a secret anymore. Also, Salman Butt has reacted to one of those controversies. Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman changes more than India’s fortunes in major ICC finals. The kind of turmoil we get to see in the country’s cricket board management is at times funny but it also raises questions about their seriousness for the sport.

Another incident, which is again questioning the decision-making of the PCB is their denial of approving NOC (No Objection Certificate) to young middle-order batsman Mohammad Haris from featuring in the ongoing 2024 edition of Bangladesh Premier League.

Mohammad Haris, in a tragic turn of events, was forced to take a flight from Bangladesh to Pakistan after the PCB rejected his request to represent Chottogram Challengers in the latest BPL season. Haris had arrived in Bangladesh on time for his team’s next match but due to his unfortunate or for not being on the good books of PCB, the 22-year-old had to admit that he will be back for BPL action next year.

“Thank you, Chattogram team management and the BCB for taking care of me and giving me this opportunity. I also flew in on time to prepare myself to give some great games to my fans in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, my NOC was not issued. Hence, I will not play any games. I knew my team needed me. Hopefully, I will join them next year. I will definitely miss playing the BPL” Mohammad Haris said. 

In the contrary, the PCB approved the NOCs of senior players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi to go on and represent their franchises in the International League T20 and BPL but it is not understood as to why Mohammad Haris has been denied from doing the same.

Not just Haris but players like Saim Ayub, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Fakhar Zaman have also been denied from playing in foreign leagues. Is it because they have provided a very small amount of impact with their performances for the national side?

Salman Butt Makes Funny Remarks On Mohammad Haris Not Being Granted NOC For BPL

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt made rather a funny exclamation about it, saying that it’s as if PCB are acting like fathers doing an unfair distribution of their wealth where a child gets more than he deserves while the other gets nothing.

“It is like an unfair distribution of wealth by a family member, where one kid gets more while the other one gets less. A few players are feeling left out because they haven’t received NOCs, whereas some other players have. This is an issue that needs to be solved,” Salman Butt said. 

Everyone in the cricketing fraternity are keen to know the reason why Mohammad Haris, Fakhar Zaman, and Iftikhar Ahmed among others are getting denied. In fact, allowing them to play in those leagues would actually help the players gain positive momentum and confidence for the T20 World Cup in June.

They were drubbed 4-1 by New Zealand in their last T20I series which they will not play again until May when England host them for a 4-match series.