The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly refused to extend the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) given to its players Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan to play more matches in the ongoing Big Bash League 2023-24 (BBL 13).

This happened after all three players requested PCB to grant them an extension so that they could play two extra matches for their respective teams in the Australia T20 league.

However, the PCB wants to prioritize the fitness and workload management of all three players keeping in mind the upcoming five-T20I series in New Zealand. Hence, they didn’t allow them to play more games in BBL. The governing body earlier allowed some players to take part in 5 games in the tournament. 

Haris Rauf recently pulled out of the Test series against Australia. He cited mental fatigue as his reason for not playing.

As per the earlier NOCs granted, all the Pakistan players in BBL are scheduled to stay in Australia till 28th December. Apart from the players, the franchises also requested PCB to extend their availability in the tournament till the end of the first week of January. 

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However, the PCB declined the request as the New Zealand T20Is begin on 12th January and Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan are part of the squad. 

Pakistan will be captained by Shaheen Afridi in the T20I series against New Zealand. The fast bowler was recently appointed as the captain of the team in the shortest format of the game.

Pakistan squad for the T20Is against New Zealand:

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.

(Geo Super TV report)