Pakistan players’ availability in doubt as GT20, Sri Lanka Tests likely to clash

A potential clash between Pakistan’s Test series against Sri Lanka and the third edition of the Global T20 League Canada has raised doubts about the Pakistan players’ participation in the franchise league.

The third edition of the Global T20 will run from July 20 to August 6 after a four-year hiatus while the Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is poised to commence on July 16.

A total of 14 Pakistan players were picked in the GT20 draft. While some of those drafted have retired – Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik – but there are some players – Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique – who are a regular part of Pakistan’s Test team.

The rest of the ten players drafted, including Zaman Khan, Azam Khan and Saim Ayub, have played white-ball cricket recently for Pakistan but are yet to make it to the longest format.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the drafted players will have to seek the No-Objection Certificate from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regardless of their selection in the national team’s squad.

Furthermore, a PCB official told ESPN Cricinfo that the decision on NOCs would still be made with consideration for the player’s fitness and need for rest.

Moreover, the PCB is likely not to give the NOCs for the Global T20 to any player selected for the Test series against Sri Lanka.

Notably, Pakistan’s Test vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan, signed as an icon player Vancouver Knights, was dropped from Pakistan’s most recent Test series against New Zealand in favour of Sarfaraz Ahmed.

The former Pakistan captain grabbed the opportunity with both hands as after scoring three consecutive half-centuries, Sarfaraz Ahmed scored a fighting fourth-inning century that prevented Pakistan from a series defeat.

At the back of his sensational return, Sarfaraz Ahmed is likely to retain his place which however does not guarantee that Rizwan will miss his place from the squad entirely.

Complete list of Pakistani players in GT20 Canada

Vancouver Knights: Muhammad Rizwan (Icon)
Mississauga Panthers: Shoaib Malik (Icon), Azam Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani
Surrey Jaguars: Iftikhar Ahmed (Marquee), Muhammad Haris
Toronto Nationals: Shahid Afridi (Marquee), Zaman Khan, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq
Brampton: Hussain Talat, Usama Mir
Montreal: Abbas Afridi

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