Trinbago Knight Riders have received a blow following their record victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs on Friday night, as 19-year-old fast bowler Muhammad Hasnain has been recalled to Pakistan by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Checks with TKR officials yesterday revealed that the PCB had originally given Hasnain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to play for the entire CPL but have now made an about-turn and decided to revoke the NOC.
Every player who takes part in franchise T20 leagues require NOCs from their respective cricket boards in line with the International Cricket Council (ICC) policy.
Hasnain has been good opening the bowling for the TKR so far this season and has taken six wickets in the four matches to date. He grabbed two wickets, including that of the dangerous Jamaica Tallawahs batsmen Chris Gayle, in the team’s fourth successive win at Sabina Park on Friday night.
Guardian Media understands that the PCB is considering Hasnain for a series against Sri Lanka carded from September 27 to October 19 in Pakistan. In order to get him into ‘red ball’ groove, they have made a decision to call him home to take part in the second round of the domestic Quaid-e-Azam trophy.
The CPL franchises drafted several Pakistani cricketers for the ongoing edition of the league this season. Shadab Khan, who was among the biggest earners from Pakistan as a draft of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, has already left for home. However, Khan was told early on that he would be required to return home while Hasnain’s situation came as a shock to the TKR set-up.
TKR has already suffered a major blow this season with the loss of regular skipper Dwayne Bravo for the entire tournament. Bravo received surgery on an injured middle finger of his left hand and was replaced by Kieron Pollard, who has done a good job in winning all his matches.
Bravo’s brother Darren has also been out for the first few games while recovering from a concussion he received during the recent Test series against India.