PCB refuses to grant NOC to Naseem Shah for The Hundred

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Saturday decided against granting fast-bowler Naseem Shah the NOC to feature in The Hundred Cricket League, citing workload management, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

This will deprive Naseem of around Rs 45 million as he was signed by the Birmingham Phoenix team for £125,000.

As per the sources, the decision has been taken as a preventive measure ahead of the crucial matches of the World Test Championship, after reviewing the application submitted by the Pakistani cricketer for the NOC.

They said his application has been dismissed to protect him from injuries since he plays in all three formats of cricket for the national side and he faced some fitness challenges last year.

Naseem underwent a successful surgery to treat his shoulder injury in October 2023. Following this, he had been ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023.

After that, doctors advised the young pacer to rest and undergo rehabilitation for a period of four to six weeks before making his return to the ground. This injury forced him out of action for at least three to four months.

In the 46th over, during Pakistan's second game against India at the Asia Cup 2023 in September 2023, the pacer walked off the field after suffering an injury on the reserve day organized for that game. Soon after, the PCB issued a press release stating that the right-arm had been ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

He had suffered an injury to a muscle just below his bowling shoulder.