LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced a new no-objection certificate (NOC) policy for national cricketers seeking to participate in overseas private leagues, barring them from the Afghanistan Premier League while allowing conditional participation in the ILT20 and Abu Dhabi T10 League.
The decision comes amid heightened political tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, sources familiar with the matter said.
Under the new policy, Pakistani players will not be granted NOCs to feature in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL). However, they may participate in the International League T20 (ILT20) and Abu Dhabi T10 League subject to financial and other conditions set by the PCB.
The board has fixed a fee of $25,000 per player for participation in the ILT20, while players seeking to join the Abu Dhabi T10 League will have to pay $10,000 each.
Sources said the PCB would not issue NOCs to players who failed to pay the prescribed fees and meet the board’s requirements.
No Pakistani cricketer has so far applied to the PCB for an NOC to participate in the Afghanistan Premier League, the sources added.
Players seeking to join private T20 and T10 competitions abroad must obtain an NOC from the PCB. Without the board’s approval, national cricketers are not permitted to take part in such leagues.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, however, has registered for the Afghanistan Premier League as a British player after acquiring British citizenship. He therefore does not require an NOC from the PCB to participate in the tournament.
The PCB’s policy has been framed in light of international cricket regulations. Under International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, national cricket boards can charge fees to league organisers in return for allowing their contracted or registered players to participate in private competitions.
The practice is not unique to Pakistan, sources said, adding that other cricket boards also charge fees when issuing NOCs for players to take part in privately organised leagues.
The policy aims to regulate the participation of international cricketers in private tournaments while protecting the financial interests of national cricket boards.
Sources further said the PCB generally does not charge NOC fees for leagues operated by cricket boards that hold full membership of the ICC. For other privately organised competitions, the board applies its own policy and conditions.
