PCB Denies NOC to Usama Mir for T20 Blast

Pakistan legspinner Usama Mir has been denied a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), preventing him from participating in the upcoming T20 Blast with Worcestershire Rapids. Mir was expected to be available for the entire tournament after being omitted from Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Mir's NOC application was rejected due to a clause in his three-year central contract with the PCB, which permits players to participate in only two franchise T20 leagues outside of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) per season. Mir had already played in the Hundred and the Big Bash League (BBL) during the current contractual cycle, which runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

Despite Mir's limited involvement in the BBL, he and Worcestershire believed there was a chance of an NOC being granted for the Blast. However, the PCB maintains that its "PSL +2" policy is non-negotiable.

Mir was a standout performer for Worcestershire in the Blast last season, taking 19 wickets and scoring 132 runs. He has been replaced by West Indian legspinner Hayden Walsh, who was recommended by former Worcestershire player Jason Holder.

Walsh expressed his excitement about joining Worcestershire, saying, "I am thrilled to join Worcestershire and be part of such a prestigious club. Both Jason and Alzarri [Joseph] have said a lot of good things about the club and the group of players, and I look forward to contributing to the team's success."

Worcestershire CEO Ashley Giles praised Walsh's versatility and talent, saying, "Hayden is a versatile and talented cricketer whose skills will be a great asset to our squad."

Worcestershire will begin their T20 Blast campaign against Yorkshire on Thursday night, with Mir's absence a significant blow to their hopes of success.

Tags: #UsamaMir, #T20Blast, #WorcestershireRapids, #PCB, #NOC