Naseem Shah 'fails' to secure NOC for The Hundred

LAHORE: Pacer Naseem Shah has failed to secure the no objection certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for The Hundred cricket league, Geo News reported Saturday citing sources.

The cricket board decided against granting Naseem the NOC on ground of workload management as well as health concerns, the sources said.

The decision will deprive the right-arm bowler of about Rs45 million as Birmingham Phoenix team signed him for £125,000, during drafting of The Hundred.

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 the 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 which, he had been ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023.

After that, doctors had 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 organised for that game. Soon after, the PCB issued a press release stating that the right-armer has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

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