The PCB has declined the requests from Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan to participate in two additional games during the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24. Despite the players’ desire for increased game time, the board prioritizes their fitness for the upcoming New Zealand T20Is, leading to the denial of the NOC extension.

PCB’s decision stems from the intention to ensure the fitness of Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, and Usama Mir for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled to commence on January 12. Earlier, the PCB had allowed some players to play up to five games in the BBL, with all Pakistan players initially slated to stay in Australia until December 28.

In response to requests from both players and franchises to extend participation in the BBL until the first week of January, the PCB has denied the extension, aligning with its focus on preparing the players for the New Zealand tour.

The T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand will be led by Shaheen Afridi, who recently took over the captaincy from Babar Azam. The decision to appoint Afridi followed Babar Azam’s resignation as the team’s leader after the ICC World Cup 2023.

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Strategic NOC Denial: PCB Prioritizes Player Fitness for New Zealand T20Is amid BBL 2023-24

The squad for the T20I series includes: Shaheen Afridi (c), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan.

Haris Rauf, who recently withdrew from the Test series against Australia citing mental fatigue, remains a crucial part of the team for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, alongside Usama Mir and Zaman Khan.

In other developments, the PCB has appointed former all-rounder Yasir Arafat as the new high-performance coach ahead of the New Zealand T20Is. Arafat’s appointment, recommended by the national team’s director Mohammad Hafeez, comes as the team faces challenges during the T20I series against Australia, with Pakistan experiencing a significant defeat in the first Test and facing difficulties in the second game. The team’s struggles in Australia add to their longstanding quest for a series win in the country for over two decades. Despite the challenges, the team aims to reverse their fortunes in the upcoming matches.