Mumbai: Yusuf Pathan never received an NOC (No Objection Certificate) to play T20 matches in Hong Kong, it is learnt here.
According to the highly placed sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he was only granted permission to play a few 50-over matches in Bangladesh. Last year, Pathan participated in the 50-over Dhaka League games for Abahani Limited, in Bangladesh.
The other player to get such permission to play in Bangladesh was Delhi's Unmukt Chand, who played for Prime Bank.
"The BCCI gave him an NOC to play 50-over matches. Hong Kong are hosting T20 matches for which he can't go and play,” the source close to the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), said.
The BCA official was reacting to the recent media reports suggesting Pathan's NOC is withdrawn.
Amitabh Chaudhary, the BCCI's acting secretary, also confirmed the same. Amitabh said, "Please check with Yusuf Pathan. We never gave him such permission to play in Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong T20 Blitz will be played between March 8-12 at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Mong Kok.
This confusion, however, has surprised the Kowloon Cantons team for which Pathan was scheduled to play.
"At this stage we have no official intimation from the Baroda Cricket Board or the BCCI, so the question of a replacement for Yusuf doesn't arise,” Urvashi Sethi, the spokesperson for the club said.
"As the HK T20 is not a league and the ICC has not given the matches T20 status (Hong Kong is an associate nation so they have been given 'other' status), we are still hopeful that the NOC will stand and Yusuf will play,” she further added.
One of the team owners, Aparna Kapur Shankar, is likely to consult team coach Craig Wright for the replacement, if Pathan is unable to participate.
