Pakistan’s centrally contracted players to play two T20 leagues a season

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come up with a new NOC (No-Objection Certificate) policy that has limited centrally contracted players to play only two T20 leagues, including their own Pakistan Super League, in a season.

Apart from that, non-contracted players will have to appear in at least three First Class games in order to get an NOC from the board to play three leagues a season.

This was announced in a meeting attended by Chief Selector Pakistan Team Inzamam Ul Haq, Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed, Director Academies Mudassar Nazar, Director Cricket Operations Haroon Rasheed, Adviser to PCB Chairman Shakil Shaikh and Senior Manager Domestic Cricket Operations Saqib Irfan.

The reason for this restriction was Pakistan Coach Mickey Arthur’s concerns that he expressed during Pakistan’s tour to New Zealand, where he saw some of the players tired due to the abundance of league cricket.

“Retired players do not need any NOC from the PCB. However, as per the ICC rule they are bound to obtain NOC from the PCB for two years from the date of their retirement,” the decision reads.

“To deal with special cases not covered under the rules, i.e. for exceptions, a four-member committee comprising chairman, chief selector, head coach [Pakistan team] and director cricket operations will decide to issue NOC for player’s participation in any additional league,” it added.