Pakistan’s cricketers have been told, without warning, that they can’t head to overseas T20 leagues for now. A short note, emailed on 29 September and signed by the board’s chief operating officer, Sumair Ahmad Syed, simply read: “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.”
That is the full extent of clarity so far. The Pakistan Cricket Board hasn’t provided a reason and hasn’t said how long the pause will last. The decision dropped less than 24 hours after the side’s narrow Asia Cup final defeat to India in Dubai, though officials insist the two events aren’t linked.
Whatever the motive, the impact is immediate. Seven internationals – Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi among them – are contracted to the Big Bash League starting in December. A further 18 Pakistani players, including Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, are on the long list for Sunday’s ILT20 auction in the UAE. All now need fresh clearance.
Domestic schedules may be a factor. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s flagship first-class competition, finally begins in early October after a week-long delay. The board has often said it wants its leading names playing four-day cricket at home; grounding them is an easy way to achieve that, deliberately or otherwise.
Franchise officials are already fretting. One BBL team manager, speaking privately, admitted the uncertainty “leaves us scrambling for backup plans”. Players’ agents are equally anxious, pointing out that contracts signed abroad contain penalty clauses if athletes are pulled out late.
Historically, the PCB has reversed such blanket rulings once tempers cool, so a compromise could yet emerge. Until then, Pakistan’s biggest stars remain in limbo, their winter travel bags unpacked and their place in high-profile leagues suddenly far from guaranteed.
