The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended all no-objection certificates (NOCs) for players intending to participate in T20 leagues outside Pakistan. The decision, communicated via notice on 29 September by PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmad Syed, was approved by PCB Chairman and remains in effect until further notice.
The notice, seen by ESPNcricinfo, stated: “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.” No explanation was provided for the suspension.
Media reports suggest that the PCB intends to link NOCs to a performance-based system, though the criteria and duration of the evaluation have not been disclosed. The board’s apparent aim is to incentivise players to focus on national and domestic performances.
The suspension follows Pakistan’s narrow defeat to India in the Asia Cup final in the UAE, although the team also secured a T20I tri-series victory during the same tour. Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, is also scheduled to begin in October after being delayed from 22 September.
Among the affected players are seven Pakistanis set to feature in this season’s Big Bash League, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi. Additionally, 16 Pakistan cricketers are on the shortlist for the ILT20 auction on 1 October in the UAE, including Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman.
At present, it remains unclear if any exemptions will be made or how long the NOC suspension will last.
