by Saj Sadiq

 

PakPassion.net has received confirmation that none of the 15 players named by the Pakistan selectors for the forthcoming Twenty/20 World Cup will be permitted to take part in the Bangladeshi domestic Twenty/20 competition.

Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir were just some of the players that had signed deals for the competition that is due to start on 26th March in Sharjah. Whilst several of the World Cup squad had already signed deals, PakPassion.net has learnt that a number of other members of the squad had expressed an interest to the Bangladeshi teams and discussions were ongoing to tie up deals before the start of the tournament.

However when Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq attempted to obtain their NOCs from the Pakistan Cricket Board, they were refused the relevant documentation and informed that they would not be given clearance to take part in the competition.

Speaking earlier to PakPassion.net Umran Khan the manager of Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi stated that he could fully understand why the Board have taken this stance. "The PCB want a fully fit squad for the World Cup and don't want to run the risk of any players getting injured in the Bangladesh Twenty/20 competition. It's understandable why they have made this decision".

Umran also stated that he was in negotiations with the Bangladeshi organisers to attempt to bring in some replacements for the players who have had to withdraw. "I'm talking to the players who were named in the preliminary 30 man squad and not selected for the final 15, to see if they are interested to play in the competition. We are also talking to Shoaib Akhtar and Azhar Mahmood as possible replacements".