PCB grants NOCs to top Pakistani players for participation in leagues
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to a select group of players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, enabling them to participate in various high-profile international leagues this summer.
This move comes as part of the board's broader strategy to give players valuable exposure while balancing their workload.
According to the PCB's announcement, centrally contracted players are permitted to participate in only two foreign leagues per calendar year.
The issuance of NOCs is therefore contingent on this rule, which the PCB uses to maintain a balance between players' international commitments and their opportunities to play in lucrative franchise competitions.
Breakdown of Players and Leagues
Several Pakistani cricketers are set to feature in some of the most renowned international leagues this summer. Among those granted NOCs are:
Big Bash League: Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan
County Cricket : Mohammad Amir, Shan Masood, Kashif Ali, Abbas Afridi, Khawaja Khurram, Hasan Ali
Global Super League : Khawaja Nafay, Muhammad Nawaz
Caribbean Premier League: Muhammad Nawaz, Hassan Khan
Although Babar Azam's name has not yet appeared in the first phase of registrations for the Big Bash League (BBL) draft, the inclusion of his name in the PCB's NOC list suggests that he will be available for selection.
The BBL 15 Draft, scheduled for June 19, 2025, will see several Pakistani players included in the pool, marking the first time players from Pakistan will be eligible for an entire BBL season.
The NOCs, issued as a result of the PCB's strategic planning, aim to keep the players match-ready during off-seasons and offer them the chance to hone their skills in different playing conditions.
This exposure is expected to help them return to national duty in top form, ready for key tournaments like the ICC T20 World Cup.
The PCB's approach also aligns with the shifting dynamics of the global cricket calendar, which increasingly features overlapping franchise leagues.
By allowing its top players to participate, the PCB ensures that they remain engaged with the game while preparing for future international commitments.
Furthermore, with the rise of franchise cricket, the PCB's decision also reflects an understanding of the financial and career opportunities available to players through these leagues.
The board's policy ensures that these opportunities are balanced with the players' national commitments, preventing burnout and allowing them to stay fresh and motivated.
As the summer's international leagues approach, the PCB's strategic moves will help its players stay at the top of their game while contributing to the ongoing growth of Pakistani cricket on the global stage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Babar Azam likely to make BBL debut with Sydney Sixers
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is highly likely to feature in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) Season 15, with strong indications that he will join the Sydney Sixers franchise. A teaser video posted by the Sydney Sixers on their official social media channels showed a brief glimpse of a player resembling Babar in the Sixers jersey, sparking widespread speculation and excitement among fans. While the franchise has not yet confirmed the signing, an official announcement is expected ahead of the BBL overseas players' draft scheduled for June 19. ICC releases new T20 rankings: no Pakistani cricketer in top 10 Babar Azam, one of Pakistan's premier batters and a consistent performer across formats, has also received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to participate in overseas leagues. Alongside Babar, the PCB has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to 12 other players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf. Cricket Australia recently released the preliminary list of international players eligible for the BBL draft, which includes top names from Pakistan as well as global stars such as England's Sam Curran and Alex Hales, New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, Sri Lanka's Kusal Perera, and West Indies' Shamar Joseph. The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) draft is also drawing attention with leading cricketers like India's Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey, West Indies' Deandra Dottin, and Pakistan's Fatima Sana featuring in the initial list. Dropped: The rise and fall of Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam This year, both the BBL and WBBL drafts have been brought forward to June, allowing franchises more time to finalise their squads. According to Cricket Australia, over 600 overseas players have expressed interest in participating in the upcoming season. The Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers hold the first picks in the BBL and WBBL drafts, respectively. Each franchise is allowed one pick per round across four salary categories — Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen, who were rested for Pakistan's recent T20I series against Bangladesh, are eligible to play in the BBL during the window from December 14 to 28. Meanwhile, pacer Haris Rauf has also received an NOC to participate in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, which kicks off this Friday, and Mohammad Amir has been permitted to continue his T20 Blast stint with Essex until July 18.
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PSL11 likely to clash with IPL again
Like the 10th edition, the HBL Pakistan Super League season 11 is also likely to take place alongside the Indian Premier League in April-May next year. In that case, the home series against Zimbabwe will have to be rescheduled. Given the limited time, the proposal to hold the tournament this December seems highly difficult to implement. According to details, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is traditionally held in February-March, but this year, due to the ICC Champions Trophy being hosted in Pakistan, the event was pushed to April and May, overlapping with the IPL schedule. Next year, the ICC T20 World Cup is scheduled for February-March, forcing Pakistan to find new dates for its league. A proposal was made to hold the PSL in December-January, but due to unresolved key issues, organizing it that early seems unlikely. During this window, the PCB may instead hold the domestic Pentangular Cup, involving top star cricketers. Earlier this year, it was announced that PSL would be made into a separate company, and Salman Naseer has started working as its CEO. However, no major appointments have been made in other departments yet. With 10 editions now completed, the valuation of the existing six franchise teams will be carried out, following which a 25% increase in franchise fees is expected. Last December, all teams had confirmed in writing their intent to retain ownership. However, Multan Sultans' owner, Ali Tareen, repeatedly voiced concerns about financial losses. He has been silent recently, so it remains unclear whether he will keep the team or go for rebidding. Notably, this team currently pays over one billion rupees annually in fees, making it the most expensive franchise. Similarly, the board had announced the inclusion of two new teams starting from the 11th edition, but no progress has been made on that front either. Sources revealed that the 10-year title sponsorship agreement also needs to be renewed. There will be separate contracts for ground sponsorship in 810 categories, and for both local and international broadcasting. A new deal for live streaming will also be required. Currently, PCB earns about PKR 900 million annually from the title sponsorship. Last year, live streaming rights for Pakistan were sold for approximately PKR 1.8 billion. Local broadcast rights generated around PKR 6.3 billion, while international rights brought in $4.6 million. Ground rights were sold for around PKR 2 billion for two years. For TV production, PCB signed a two-year deal worth $2.25 million annually. Tenders will be issued for all these agreements, followed by lengthy processes. If the current format continues With the inclusion of two new teams, the number of PSL matches will rise from 34 to 54. Consequently, the value of all associated deals is expected to increase by about 30%. However, it is yet to be decided whether the new teams will follow the current financial model or if a new approach will be adopted. Franchise sources confirmed that the board has not yet discussed new teams with them, let alone any financial models. The final dates for PSL 11 have not yet been confirmed, though holding the tournament in April-May next year seems likely. A joint email was sent by franchises requesting a meeting of the PSL Governing Council to discuss key matters of the league. A response is expected in coming days. It's worth noting that the Pakistan team has a home series against Sri Lanka in November, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. December and January have been kept open for domestic events. In February, Australia is scheduled to visit for three T20Is, and the T20 World Cup will follow in February-March. In March, Australia will return for three ODIs, and at the end of March and in April, Pakistan is set to tour Bangladesh for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. Zimbabwe's team is scheduled to tour Pakistan in April-May for three ODIs and three T20Is. To hold the PSL during this window, the PCB will have to reschedule the Zimbabwe series. Sources added that franchises' concerns about scheduling clashes with the IPL have decreased after the 10th edition. However, broadcasters and rights holders still have differing views. Holding PSL alongside IPL in April-May next year is a possibility, but a final decision will be made later.
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Gillespie takes a dig at PCB Chief Naqvi
Jason Gillespie resigned as the national team's Test coach just days before the South Africa Test series last year. Photo: AFP/File Former Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie has once again taken a dig at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for absence from a crucial team-building session, known as the "Connection Camp." Speaking on The Howie Games podcast, Gillespie recounted the efforts made by himself and white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten to attend the campinitiated by Kirstenonly to find a noticeable lack of engagement from the top PCB official. "Gary came up with this great idea of a connection camp. Everyone in Pakistan cricket basically shared their experiences in that meeting. I flew in from Australia, Gary flew in from South Africa, the Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dialed in Zoom," said Gillespie. "He is based in Lahore, but he did not come, while Gary came in from Africa. We both felt that the Chairman could not even drive 20 minutes to come here - that was a bit unusual." he added. The Pakistan Cricket Board held the camp on September 23, 2024, with the aim of improving communication, collaboration, and performance among the national team. The session featured eight senior players, including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, and Shan Masood. PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer had described the camp as a timely initiative ahead of a packed cricketing calendar, with its primary objective being the development of a unified vision and mission for the national team. It is pertinent to mention that the former Australian pacer resigned as the national team's Test coach just days before the South Africa Test series last year. Bowlers surge in rankings Pakistan bowlers have made significant gains in the latest ICC T20I rankings, thanks to their impressive performances in recent international fixtures. In the bowling rankings, Pakistan pacers Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi have surged forward, both occupying the joint 18th position with 605 rating points. Left-arm speedster Shaheen Afridi has also moved up, now holding the 35th spot with 552 points. Pakistan's T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan climbed to 58th place in the rankings, alongside spinner Abrar Ahmed, both earning 476 points. However, young bowlers Naseem Shah and Sufiyan Muqeem have slipped in the standings, now placed at 92nd and 95th positions with 407 and 406 points, respectively. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy currently leads the T20I bowling charts, while England's Adil Rashid has claimed the second spot, pushing India's Varun Chakaravarthy down to third. In the T20I batting rankings, Pakistan's star duo Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have retained their 12th and 13th positions, respectively. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris also holds firm at the 30th spot. However, emerging middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz has slipped to 46th place, while Saim Ayub has dropped to 62nd. Pakistan T20I captain (name omitted in original text) has fallen two spots to 76th with 430 rating points, and Fakhar Zaman has slipped one place to 87th. Australia's Travis Head continues to dominate the T20I batting rankings, followed by India's Abhishek Sharma in second. England's Phil Salt has dropped to fourth place, as young Indian batter Tilak Varma rises to third.
