Mohammad Hafeez, recently appointed as Pakistan’s Director of Cricket, has underscored the imperative for players to prioritize national duties over commitments to franchise leagues. This stance is poised to influence central contracts, with players expected to demonstrate a commitment to representing Pakistan and participating in domestic cricket.

Hafeez’s elevation to the role of Director of Cricket is part of broader structural changes made by Pakistan in response to their underwhelming performance in the recent World Cup. Notably, Naseem Shah’s injury significantly impacted Pakistan’s bowling display, leading to fatigue concerns for key bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi.

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The Director of Cricket has been vocal about the necessity of workload management, particularly concerning limiting contracted players’ participation in numerous T20 leagues abroad. Expressing disappointment, Chief Selector Wahab Riaz highlighted the case of fast bowler Haris Rauf, who opted out of Test cricket in Australia to await a No-Objection Certificate for the Big Bash League.

Hafeez emphasized in a press conference that the priority for centrally and domestically contracted players is Pakistan, reinforcing the aim of ensuring their availability for national duty. He acknowledged the challenge of balancing international commitments, domestic responsibilities, and the allure of foreign leagues, citing past instances of fatigue and injuries during tournaments.

National Duty Takes Precedence: Mohammad Hafeez’s Directive for Player Commitment and NOC Policies

Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, Hafeez outlined that the issuance of No-Objection Certificates for overseas leagues will hinge on national duty commitments for contracted players. The ongoing negotiations between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and players include discussions on the number of foreign leagues a player can participate in annually, with a tentative agreement of two leagues, contingent upon the issuance of an NOC.

Hafeez stressed that the NOC policy will align with Pakistan’s needs, prioritizing the fitness and availability of players for national duty. While acknowledging potential opportunities for players to participate in leagues, he emphasized that such considerations will be contingent on Pakistan’s requirements, particularly in the build-up to the T20 World Cup.