"There is a lot of favoritism involved" - Ahmed Shehzad slams PCB for favoritism in handing out NOCs to Pakistan players
Former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad believes there's a need for transparency in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with regard to players receiving No Objection Certificates (NOC). The NOC is needed for the players to play in overseas leagues.
According to Shehzad, the officials in the PCB provide NOCs only to those players who have an influence on the board, citing favoritism. He also mentioned that the board doesn't provide NOCs to those players with whom they have personal differences.
Here's what Ahmed Shehzad was quoted as saying on a local sports platform by Cricket Pakistan:
"In Pakistan cricket, the process of obtaining and granting NOCs (No Objection Certificates) has never been smooth. There is a lot of favoritism involved.
"Within the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board), favoritism is rampant even in these matters. They issue NOCs to their like-minded players or those who have some influence. When they want to unnecessarily hassle someone, they withhold their NOC."
Shehzad has also earlier questioned the leadership group in the Pakistan team on having selections based on friendships and not merit.
Ahmed Shehzad questioned Shadab Khan getting an NOC
Ahmed Shehzad shed light on leg-spinner Shadab Khan getting an NOC to play in the Lanka Premier League despite his poor performances for Pakistan. He felt that after delivering poor performances, players like Shadab shouldn't have been allowed to play in overseas leagues.
On this, he stated:
"Can you tell me why you granted Shadab a NOC? He delivered the worst performance as soon as he arrived, yet you immediately gave him a NOC. Are some of his people or friends among the decision-makers in the PCB? What is the reason behind it, and why are you withholding NOCs from others? Why are you stopping others? And first, tell me, who gave your selectors permission to go play in leagues after such performances?"
The PCB have denied Naseem Shah permission to participate in The Hundred because of workload management. They had cited a similar reason for the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan not playing in GT20 Canada.