Pakistan players temporarily barred from overseas leagues as PCB suspends issuance of NOCs.
PCB Suspends NOCs for Players Following Asia Cup 2025 Defeat
In the aftermath of Asia Cup 2025, where Pakistan lost all three matches to India—including a controversial final—the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken drastic measures. The board has temporarily suspended the provision of no-objection certificates (NOCs) that allow players to participate in overseas franchise T20 leagues.
An ESPNcricinfo report confirms the decision came the day after the Asia Cup final. PCB Chief of Operations Sumair Ahmad Syed issued a notice to players and their agents stating:
The issuance of NOCs is reportedly linked to an internal performance evaluation system within the PCB. Players failing to meet the required standards may be barred from tournaments such as the ILT20 and Big Bash League, both scheduled later this year. While full details are yet to emerge, the move is believed to ensure national team stars remain available for domestic competitions, including the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, set to begin in October.
Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam amongst those affected by ruling
As of now, seven Pakistani players recruited for the Australia Big Bash League await approval, including stars like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. Additionally, 16 Pakistani cricketers have registered for the ILT20 auction.
Post-retirement, several Indian cricketers have made themselves available for franchise cricket, with Dinesh Karthik and Ravichandran Ashwin being high-profile examples. Ashwin was set to join Sydney Thunder’s spin-bowling lineup alongside Shadab Khan in the BBL, though recent developments have temporarily cast his participation into doubt.