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PCB issues show-cause notice to cricketers playing in US without NOC

More than 15 Pakistan players did not seek permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play in the United States

PCB issues show-cause notice to cricketers playing in US without NOC PHOTO: FB/Saif Badar

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a show-cause notice to cricketers playing in the United States without permission. 

According to the details, several Pakistan cricketers are currently looking towards the United States as a promising avenue for their future careers. That is why so many players went there to play. The PCB is closely observing and has taken measures to regulate the situation by requiring players to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before participating in overseas leagues.

However, according to sources, over 15 Pakistan players opted to forego seeking official permission from the PCB before engaging in cricket activities in the United States. In response to this breach of protocol, the board has taken action by issuing show-cause notices to these players.

Some players have asserted that they have acquired American citizenship, thereby negating the necessity for a No Objection Certificate (NOC). 

However, when Pakistan cricket authorities approached them to provide evidence supporting their citizenship status and to provide a formal declaration of their unavailability for future participation in the national team or domestic cricket, they did not give any response.

It must be noted that during the recent Houston Open Tournament, it has come to light that Sohaib Maqsood, Arshad Iqbal, Aarish Ali, Hussain Talat, Ali Shafiq, Imad Butt, Usman Shanwari, Umaid Asif, Zeeshan Ashraf, Saif Badar, Mukhtar Ahmed, and Nauman Anwar didn't obtain any NOC from PCB.

Similarly, participants in the ongoing Minor League, including Salman Arshad, Mussadiq Ahmed, Imran Khan Junior, Ali Nasir, and Hussain Talat, have also not obtained the necessary permissions.

However, it is worth noting that Fawad Alam, Hassan Khan, Asif Mahmood, Mir Hamza, Sharjeel Khan, and Anwar Ali have obtained NOCs from the board. The PCB had previously implemented a stipulation of $10,000 for procuring an NOC prior to participating in foreign leagues.

However, this amount is not given by the players but by their team. If a team is granted permission for players once and then they make agreements with other Pakistan player, they would have to pay an additional $10,000.

The board has collected fees from teams for NOCs for the Houston Open but has granted free permission for the Minor League if players make a request for it.