Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has reportedly declined offers from two County clubs, Yorkshire and Warwickshire. Both teams wanted him for the closing rounds of the English domestic season but Babar chose not to go ahead.Â
According to Geo News, the decision was not related to form or fitness and it was about saving his limited No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for bigger tournaments.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has a cap on how many overseas leagues a centrally contracted player can participate in during a season. With a long international calendar lined up, Babar Azam felt that using up one of his NOCs for a short County stint would not be the best move. Instead, he has kept his focus on competitions that can give him a longer run and greater exposure.
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Babar Azam Declines County Stint, Preserves NOC For Big Bash League
Babar is expected to feature in the Big Bash League (BBL) later this year. By skipping County cricket, he ensures that he saves his NOC for the upcoming season of the BBL.
His earlier stint in England with Somerset during the T20 Blast had raised hopes that he might return but the NOC restrictions forced him to prioritise BBL. Playing in the Big Bash League gives him a chance to prove his worth in shortest format and make a comeback to Pakistan’s T20 fold.
Babar also remains in talks with other franchise leagues, though any final call will depend on how those tournaments fit around Pakistan’s schedule.
Babar Azam Left Out of Pakistan's Asia Cup 2025 Squad
Babar has not been named in Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. Head coach Mike Hesson explained why Babar was dropped.
The team management wants the 30-year-old to work on his strike-rate and improve his gameplay against spin bowling.
Pakistan will start their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on September 12 against Oman. They will play their other two group matches versus India and the UAE on September 14 and September 17 respectively.
