PCB suspends players’ NOCs for foreign T20 leagues

Some of Pakistan’s leading cricketers are set to face immediate consequences as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players intending to participate in overseas T20 leagues.

The PCB has formally conveyed its decision to both the players and their respective agents, informing them that the board will not be granting NOCs for the time being. The development comes in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing defeat to arch-rivals India in the final of the Asia Cup, which concluded recently in Dubai.

Although the PCB has not publicly disclosed the reasons behind the move, nor provided a timeline for when the suspension might be lifted, the timing of the decision has raised eyebrows. It is seen by many as a reaction to the national team’s performance and part of the board’s broader efforts to reassess priorities ahead of the upcoming international commitments.

Several high-profile players including captain Babar Azam, star wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi were set to participate in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) scheduled for December. Their involvement now appears uncertain following the PCB’s decision.

In addition, more than a dozen Pakistani players have been shortlisted for the International League T20 (ILT20), with its player auction set to take place on Wednesday. With NOCs now withheld, their availability for the league hangs in the balance.

The move is likely to have significant implications not just for the players who benefit financially and professionally from overseas leagues but also for the global franchises that rely on Pakistani talent to boost their squads.

Further clarification from the PCB is awaited, and it remains to be seen whether this is a short-term disciplinary measure or part of a longer-term strategic shift in managing player workloads and commitments.