After getting the NOC, Afridi will be able to play in an ongoing English Twenty20 event as the all-rounder withdrew his petition against the board from the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday.
The development took place within less than 24 hours of Afridi and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday under the gaze of senior government officials.
On Wednesday, the PCB summoned Afridi for a hearing at its headquarters in Lahore today.
“PCB has been informed by Shahid Khan Afridi that the constitutional petition filed by him before the Sindh High Court has today been dismissed as withdrawn,” said a PCB media release.
“Therefore, in continuation of the proceduere that had been postponed as per court orders, PCB has directed Shahid Afrdito to appear in person before the Diciplinary Committee of PCB on 16 June,” it concluded.
Afridi said he had taken the initiative.
“I have withdrawn my petition filed before the High Court of Sindh at Karachi against Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a first step to resolving the matter,” Afridi said in a statement.
“As a true sportsman and cricketer, I believe that for the future progress, advancement and success of cricket in Pakistan it is necessary to strengthen PCB as an institution,” Afridi said.
“I have all the zeal and energy to play cricket for the nation for many years to come. I will be appearing before the disciplinary committee tomorrow, inshallah (God willing).”
According to sources, during the meeting Butt agreed to reissue an NOC to Afridi to play professional cricket abroad provided the all-rounder withdrew his court case against the Board. Both parties agreed on a compromise after which Afridi withdrew his petition on Wednesday.
Sources said the player will now appear before a PCB disciplinary committee later this week. “The committee will recommend that the Board should reissue Afridi an NOC to play in England. It might also penalize the former captain but the punishment won’t be strict as was expected before the Afridi-Butt meeting,” said the source.
Sources close to Afridi said the star cricketer will leave for London later this week to represent Hampshire in the English Twenty20 event — Friends Pro-t20.
“We have withdrawn the petition and after this Afridi will appear before the disciplinary committee likely on Thursday,” Afridi’s lawyer Mehmood Mandviwala told reporters outside the SHC.
“We didn’t want to go to court but were forced. Now I hope Afridi will get the NOC (no-objection certificate) and will be able to play in England and Sri Lanka,” he added.
The PCB revoked Afridi’s permission to play abroad, preventing him from appearing in the ongoing Twenty20 league in England and threatening his participation in next month’s inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League.
The stand-off began last month after Afridi accused coach Waqar Younis of undue meddling in team selection during the one-day series against the West Indies, which Pakistan won by 3-2.
The PCB removed him as one-day captain and in protest, Afridi announced his retirement from international cricket and accused PCB officials, including Butt, of mishandling his case.
The PCB said Afridi had violated the players’ code of conduct. It suspended his central contract and revoked his NOC. Afridi then went to court last week.
Afridi’s lawyer said the star would appear before a PCB disciplinary committee when a new date is set. A spokesman said the PCB would wait for the court to formerly order out the petition before deciding on a future course of action.
Meanwhile, Hampshire are still awaiting confirmation that star signing Shahid Afridi is free to play in their Friends Life t20 title defence.
“We haven’t received any notification from the PCB yet,” said a Hampshire spokesman.
“We are aware as a club that there have been discussions between Afridi and the PCB but we were not privy to those.
“We are very hopeful that the rumours are true that he has been granted a No Objection Certificate, but at the moment we have to wait on confirmation from the PCB.”
“If we get confirmation that the NOC has come through then we will get Shahid on a plane immediately.
“Having spoken to Shahid last time he was here I’m under no illusions that he is raring to get back to Hampshire to play.”
Afridi has already missed Hampshire’s opening six games of the Twenty20 tournament and the Royals expect him to at least miss Friday’s visit to Glamorgan, meaning an earliest possible return will come against Essex next Thursday.
