PCB blocks Pakistan stars from playing in overseas T20 leagues
Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are among seven Pakistan players due to play in the BBL this season. PHOTO: ICC
The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended all no-objection certificates for players who want to take part in T20 leagues outside the country.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the decision was confirmed in a notice sent by Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chief operating officer, Sumair Ahmad Syed, on September 29.
"With the approval of Chairman PCB, all No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players with respect to participation in leagues and other out of country tournaments are hereby put on hold until further orders," the notice read.
No official reason was given, but reports suggest the board may link NOCs to a performance-based system. The criteria for this system have not been shared yet, nor has a timeline been set for when the suspension will be lifted. The idea, as per reports, is to encourage players to focus on national duty and domestic cricket first.
The development came just a day after Pakistan’s narrow defeat to India in the Asia Cup final in the UAE, although the team also lifted the T20I tri-series trophy during the same tour.
Meanwhile, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy — Pakistan’s leading domestic competition — is scheduled to begin in October after being delayed from its original September 22 start.
The uncertainty leaves several players in limbo. Seven Pakistan stars, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi, were set to feature in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) later this year. Sixteen more are in the shortlist for the UAE’s ILT20 auction on October 1, including Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether any exemptions will be granted or how long the suspension will last.