The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), led by Shah Khawar, recently granted NOCs to five contracted players, including rising talent Saim Ayub, to partake in the ongoing BPL 2024 season, a decision that came after an initial refusal.
The PCB underwent yet another leadership change, causing upheaval within the organization. Zaka Ashraf abruptly resigned from his post for undisclosed reasons, mere months after assuming office following Ramiz Raja’s tenure.
In the wake of Ashraf’s departure, Shah Khawar, a Supreme Court advocate, assumed the role of interim chairman of the cricket board. He is set to hold the position until the next round of elections.
However, tensions between Pakistani players and the PCB persist, particularly regarding the approval of NOCs for participation in franchise T20 leagues. The PCB’s policy restricts contracted players to feature in a maximum of two leagues per calendar year.
This policy led to the unfortunate situation where Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub were prohibited from competing in the Bangladesh Premier League due to alleged rule violations. Haris, assured of the permit, found himself deported from Dhaka after the PCB reversed its decision at the eleventh hour, leaving him stranded and embarrassed.
In a recent development, the PCB has reconsidered its stance and granted NOC permits to five players, including Aamer Jamal, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, and Akif Javed.
Following this decision, Durdanto Dhaka swiftly acquired the services of Saim Ayub, the promising young batsman who has garnered attention in domestic cricket. Ayub, who received a Test call-up against Australia but couldn’t leave a significant mark, now aims to showcase his talent in the T20 format as he eyes a spot in the national team ahead of the upcoming PSL season.
With his raw skills and aggressive style, Saim Ayub has the potential to become a notable figure in Pakistan cricket, joining the ranks of stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who are currently participating in the BPL 2024 season.
