Baroda Cricket Association Issues NOC To Irfan Pathan

India all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, has been issued a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) which will allow him to play for some other state from the next season. Pathan had written to BCA to issue him a NOC so he could play for some other state.

“Considering Irfan’s contribution to the Baroda team, the managing committee agreed to give him NOC. He is now free to play for any other team,” Snehal Parikh, BCA secretary told TOI.

Irfan had asked for NOC after selectors didn’t name him in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad. Earlier, he was appointed as the captain of the Ranji Trophy team for the season, but just after two matches, he was replaced with Deepak Hooda. For T20 games as well, selectors kept faith in Hooda and Pathan couldn’t make a comeback to the side.

This would have surely hurt Irfan, who made his mind to play for some other state. It can be presumed that he might not be included in the squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy as well, which would mean that Irfan will end this season with two games.

There are high chances of Irfan playing for Kerala as reports before the start of the season had suggested that the state approached him to play as a professional. They also approached Punjab opener, Jiwanjot Singh, for the job. Neither of the two accepted the offer, and finally, Kerala inked on Arun Karthik.

With Irfan already having an offer set for him, he might opt to play for Kerala only.

Though with him missing the almost complete season, this can have its impact on him on the auction day and can see him going unsold. Last year too, he went unsold in the auction but later replaced Dwayne Bravo in Gujarat Lions.

Meanwhile, Baroda have qualified for the Super League of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Deepak Hooda would continue to lead the team in the second round of the tournament. The Super League tournament starts on January 21.

Follow Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here.

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