The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reaffirmed 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 strictly limits centrally and domestically contracted players from participating in more than two overseas leagues annually, aiming to manage player workload and prioritize national commitments.
In response to this policy, PCB officials have decided not to issue NOCs to Azam Khan and Saim Ayub, despite their retention by teams in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Both players were part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad. An official source emphasized that all players, regardless of contract type, must adhere strictly to this regulation. The PCB retains the authority to deny NOC requests based on factors such as player workload, fitness concerns, or obligations to domestic teams.
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“All players have been clearly informed that the two NOCs rule applies universally, and the PCB reserves the right to reject any NOC request from any player. The board may refuse an NOC if it determines that a player’s workload and fitness could be compromised, or if the player is required for domestic duties,” stated a PCB official.
The enforcement of this policy was evident 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 had no international commitments and there were no domestic events, he should be allowed to play in England. However, he was informed that this decision rests solely with the board,” the official said.
This decision underscores the PCB’s commitment to maintaining control over player participation in international leagues, with officials communicating this stance to cricket boards and franchises organizing T20 leagues. They cautioned against engaging Pakistan players without proper PCB-issued NOCs, highlighting the associated risks.
