'Baseless, Factually Inaccurate And Speculative': PCB Dismiss Reports Of Not Allowing NOC To Players For BBL

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has denied media reports suggesting the board is against issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs) to players interested in participating in the Big Bash League at the end of the year.

On August 2, ESPNcricinfo, one of the leading cricket websites across the globe, reported that the Pakistan cricket board won’t issue NOCs to its players to play BBL. The report also mentioned there was no clarity on the board’s stands for allowing players in South Africa and UAE’s T20 leagues.

“The PCB is refusing to provide no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Pakistani players – contracted or not contracted – who want to participate in the upcoming BBL season,” a report from ESPNcricinfo read.

PCB dismissed ESPNCricinfo story

On Wednesday (August 3), PCB clarified that they had no intention of barring their players in overseas T20 leagues and termed the report ‘baseless’ and ‘factually inaccurate’.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board has dismissed the ESPNCricinfo story under the headline PCB to deny NOC to Pakistani players for BBL; no clarity on ILT20 or CSA league, terming it baseless, factually inaccurate and speculative,” the PCB statement read.

“The PCB said ESPNCricinfo contacted it on Tuesday, 2 August, at 1120, requesting for responses latest by 1400 on the same day. ESPNCricinfo was informed at 1130 that the PCB will revert by the close of business on Wednesday, 3 August.”

“The PCB NOC Guidelines allow players to apply for a maximum of three NOCs per year, excluding the PSL and NOT PSL plus one as incorrectly reported…” wrote the PCB further.

پاکستان کرکٹ بورڈ ای ایس پی این کرک انفو کی خبر کی سختی سے تردید کرتے ہوئے اسے حقائق سے منافی اور قیاس آرائی پر مبنی قرار دیتا ہے۔

مزید تفصیلات:https://t.co/ueXTaG2MtW pic.twitter.com/CudOvKLatq

— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) August 3, 2022

Pakistan players in BBL

The Pakistan Super League usually takes place in the months of February and March, while the BBL concludes in the first week of February. Even if PSL start their tournament at the end of January, as they did this year, there won’t be much disturbance for the Pakistan players to play in their home tournament.

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf played for Melbourne Stars, and opening batter Fakhar Zaman played just one game for Brisbane Heat last year. Shadab Khan was part of the Sydney Sixers campaign. All three players were called back by their respective PSL franchises, and consequently, they missed the final few games of the BBL league stage.

Also Read: ‘Bring A Chairman From Some Other Country Too’ – Salman Butt Takes A Jibe At PCB