T20 World Cup setback prompts PCB to bar Saim Ayub, Azam Khan from CPL

Board tightens NOC rules, restricting players to two overseas leagues annually to manage workloads

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reinforced its stance on the No Objection Certificate (NOC) policy following Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies.

This policy restricts centrally and domestically contracted players from participating in more than two overseas leagues annually, aiming to manage player workload and prioritise national commitments.

In light of this policy, PCB officials have withheld NOCs for Azam Khan and Saim Ayub, despite their retention by Caribbean Premier League (CPL) teams. Both players were part of Pakistan's World Cup squad. An official source emphasised that all players, regardless of contract type, must adhere strictly to this regulation. The board also reserves the right to deny NOC requests based on factors such as player workload, fitness concerns, or domestic team obligations.

"The other players have also been given a clear message that the two NOCs rule applies to both centrally and domestically contracted players, and the board also reserves the right to turn down any NOC request from any player. The PCB retains the right to refuse an NOC if it believes a player’s workload and fitness may be compromised or if the player is needed for domestic duties," a PCB official stated.

The enforcement of this policy was highlighted recently when leg-spinner Usama Mir was informed that he had exhausted his quota of two leagues for the year despite his eligibility due to a lack of international commitments and domestic events.

“Mir argued that, since he was free of any international commitments and there were no domestic events, he should be allowed to play in England. However, he was told that this decision is not for him to make but for the board to decide,” he said.

The decision, which rested solely with the PCB, underscores the board's commitment to maintaining control over player participation in international leagues.

PCB officials have communicated this stance to cricket boards and franchises organising T20 leagues, cautioning them against engaging Pakistan players without proper PCB-issued NOCs, thereby assuming the risk associated with such engagements.