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Abu Dhabi T10: Pakistan players face exclusion over PCB's $10,000 NOC demand

Sixteen Pakistani cricketers drafted for the tournament starting November 7 may miss the event after the PCB demanded $10,000 per No-Objection Certificate.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

Shadab Khan
Shadab Khan (file photo) Photo: Pakistan Cricket / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

The PCB has asked the Abu Dhabi T10 league to pay $10,000 for each NOC it issues, putting 16 Pakistani players drafted on September 30 at risk of missing the November 7 start. Franchises are exploring replacements after mediation failed.

Key takeaways

  • PCB demands $10,000 per NOC for Pakistani players in Abu Dhabi T10
  • 16 players were picked by five of six franchises in the September 30 draft
  • Tournament starts on November 7
  • Franchises are looking for replacement players after mediation failed

Pakistani cricketers drafted for the Abu Dhabi T10 face exclusion after the Pakistan Cricket Board blocked No-Objection Certificates unless the league paid $10,000 for each document. ESPNcricinfo reported that the tournament management applied for NOCs soon after the player draft on September 30, but the PCB only communicated the demand at the start of this week. The Abu Dhabi T10 is scheduled to begin on November 7.

Drafted players and league response

The participation of 16 cricketers from Pakistan was picked by five of the six teams in the draft.

The players are Salman Irshad, Akif Javed, Hasan Nawaz, Ali Raza, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Khawaja Nafay, Khushdil Shah, Azam Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Sufyan Moqeem and Abbas Afridi.

According to ESPNcricinfo, some players were planning to pay the fee from their own salaries if their team owners refused to cover the extra cost.

News18 reported that the Abu Dhabi T10 competition has refused to pay the money and asked players to pay it themselves if they wish to play. Despite efforts at mediation, teams are now exploring replacement players.

Previous NOC fee disputes

The PCB has had an on-off policy of seeking a fee for issuing NOCs for franchise leagues in recent years. Last month, the board withheld NOCs for players to take part in the Nepal Premier League asking for USD $25,000 for each player. While Hussain Talat and Jahandad Khan continued to play in the NPL, most cricketers returned without featuring in the tournament.

Central contract rules and broader context

The PCB has overhauled its NOC policy for foreign leagues in the new central contracts. T20 specialists in Track C can participate in unlimited overseas leagues, subject to national commitments.

Players in Track AB are restricted to one league annually, while Track BC players can feature in two. Red-ball specialists in Track A are barred from overseas T20 and T10 competitions.

However, uncertainty remains over individual classifications because the PCB has yet to announce its new central contracts. The previous agreements expired on June 30. Pakistani cricketers already face limited opportunities in international franchise leagues, partly because of political tensions with India.

They remain excluded from the IPL, while several overseas franchises with Indian ownership have generally avoided signing Pakistani players. Although exceptions exist, including Abrar Ahmed's Hundred contract and Usman Tariq's appearances in the Caribbean Premier League, inconsistent NOC decisions have added another obstacle.

The latest dispute threatens to further restrict opportunities for players seeking overseas experience and earnings. The PCB has not responded to requests for comment.

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