The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly suspended all previously issued No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for international players’ participation in foreign private leagues, in what is being seen as a step connected to the men’s national team’s defeat in the 2025 Asia Cup final.
According to Geo News, the PCB’s Chief Operating Officer, Sumair Ahmad Syed, issued a blanket notification that participation in foreign leagues and tournaments has been placed ‘on hold with immediate effect’ until further notice. It came only a day after Pakistan’s five-wicket loss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The report said that Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Faheem Ashraf could be the first ones
affected, for they had already been granted permission to play in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). Afridi, Rauf, and Rizwan were among the most popular names at the BBL overseas draft, with the left-arm pacer selected as the No.1 overall pick.
Afridi was picked by Brisbane Heat, Rauf retained by the Melbourne Stars, and Rizwan by Melbourne Renegades.
“The PCB sources confirmed that the issuance of NOCs will be performance-based in the future and only those players who meet the set standards in international and domestic cricket will be eligible to play foreign leagues. Players failing to meet the criteria will be required to work at the National Cricket Academy with coaches to improve their skills before seeking overseas contracts,” the report said.
The report added that the sudden action aims to ‘ensure that national players prioritise their performance for Pakistan’ in international as well as domestic cricket.
Now, if the PCB doesn’t relent, their respective BBL teams would have to scramble for replacements in the final months before the tournament begins.
Interestingly, apart from Rauf and Ashraf, none of the aforementioned players were even in the squad for the Asia Cup, where Pakistan won every game except the three against arch political rivals India.
