This directive follows fast bowler Haris Rauf's decision to forego Pakistan's Test tour of Australia in favour of awaiting approval to participate in Australia's Big Bash League
Guided by the new team director, Mohammad Hafeez, Pakistani players holding contracts are encouraged to prioritize national team obligations over engagements in franchise leagues. This directive follows fast bowler Haris Rauf’s decision to forego Pakistan’s Test tour of Australia in favor of awaiting approval to participate in Australia’s Big Bash League with the Melbourne Stars.
Hafeez underscores the importance of centrally and domestically contracted players focusing primarily on representing Pakistan. Considerations for involvement in lucrative franchise leagues will be subject to the team’s requirements and the players’ workloads. The overarching goal is to ensure players’ availability and peak performance in national duty, especially with an eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Read More: IPL 2024: List of retained and released players of all teams
“All centrally contracted and domestic contracted players, for all of them, the priority is Pakistan,” former captain Hafeez told reporters on Tuesday.
“The point of offering it (contract) to the 20-25 players … is to make sure they are available to play,” he said.
“Now there is a parallel option in the form of leagues and we experienced this in the Asia Cup and World Cup.
“There was talk of fatigue, or players were getting injured because their workloads were too much, or not performing as they should,” he added.
Hafeez is part of a new team management that was put in place after Pakistan failed to make the semifinals of this year’s 50-overs World Cup in India.
Hafeez said the board would factor in a player’s workload ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup before giving him a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) to take part in one of the growing numbers of lucrative franchise leagues around the world.
“Moving towards the T20 World Cup, the NOC policy will be based on what Pakistan needs,” he explained.
“If Pakistan needs fit players, we need to make sure of their workloads. The maximum energy and availability has to be to Pakistan.
“If there is an opportunity around that, that they can play (in leagues), that will be definitely considered,” said Hafeez.
Follow Us
