The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly denied pacer Naseem Shah the No Objection Certificate (NOC) required to participate in the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s white-ball league, The Hundred.

The PCB has cited ‘workload management’ as the reason for rejecting Naseem Shah’s No-Objection Certificate (NOC), claiming it is a preventive measure to avoid injuries ahead of the crucial matches in the ongoing World Test Championship 2023-2025.

Naseem’s inclusion in all formats and his recent injury history were key factors that influenced the decision. As a result, Birmingham Phoenix, who had signed him for £125,000 (approximately ₹1.35 crore), must now urgently seek a replacement before the tournament begins on July 23.

Pakistan‘s red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie, emphasized the importance of managing the workload for young fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are multi-format cricketers who also play franchise cricket. However, they cannot participate in every match due to the demanding schedule. To manage their workload, we will aim to rest them during less important games. Over the past year, Shaheen has bowled three times more deliveries than Mitchell Starc. Considering this heavy workload, we need to carefully monitor Shaheen’s fitness and recovery to ensure his long-term well-being,” stated Gillespie.

“Shaheen would be absent in the Bangladesh Tests due to the birth of his child. If he wishes to remain with his wife during this time, we can certainly excuse him,” he added.

Naseem’s shoulder injury sustained at the Asia Cup 2023 required surgery, causing him to miss the World Cup 2023 in India.