Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team’s Director Mohammad Hafeez has said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will soon issue a new No Objection Certificate policy for allowing national cricketers to participate in league cricket.

“When you are offered [PCB] central contract, there is a strong reason for it that you are available for Pakistan’s future tour programmes in all three formats,” he said during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.

Due to participation in league cricket, Pakistani players were getting injured or experienced fatigue during the recent Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup, he added.

“Moving towards the upcoming T20 World Cup, the NOC policy will be based on Pakistan cricket needs. If we want to give fit players to Pakistan, we need to ensure lowering their workload,” Hafeez said.

The former captain went on to add that players will be required to ensure their availability for Pakistan when needed. “If a player gets an opportunity to play league cricket after that, then it will definitely be considered.”

On Haris Rauf, he said that the pace bowler met the chief selector and committed that he wants to play Test cricket.

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“For some reason, he decided not to play. Rauf’s reports showed that he had no issue with any part of his body. It is his individual decision if he does not want to play red ball cricket. However, the central contract is offered to ensure availability in all three formats,” Hafeez added.

Responding to a question regarding Babar Azam’s role in the team after he stepped down from captaincy, Hafeez said that Azam had good relations with the new skipper Shan Masood and was part of the planning for the upcoming Australia tour.

“Both [Azam and Masood] have a strong bond. Azam has never backed down from giving feedback. He has a major role in formulating the right strategy,” he added.