ECB To Not Allow English Cricketers To Play In The Kashmir Premier League: BCCI

None of the English cricketers are likely to play in the controversial Kashmir Premier League, a BCCI official has confirmed if a report published in the Indian Express is to be believed.

According to a report published in the Indian Express, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assured their Indian counterparts that no English player will be allowed to participate in the tournament promoted by the PCB in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

This comes a day after the Indian board expressed its reservation against the tournament, stating that the PCB is following the government’s stand.

The Indian board is expecting other cricket boards to follow the ECB in not allowing its players for the controversial league.

“Yes, we have heard from the ECB that they aren’t releasing any player (for the PoK league),” a BCCI official told The Indian Express

“We have informed all the boards not to allow their former players to take part in the Kashmir league. We have done this keeping national interests in mind,” he told this paper.

The official said that the Indian board’s principal opposition to the PCB-backed tournament in POK is in line with the national interest.

“We have no problems with those playing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but this is a league in PoK. We are toeing our government’s line,” a BCCI official had said on Saturday.

The PCB released a statement on Saturday after former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs took to Twitter where he alleged that their Indian counterparts are not allowing him to enter India due to his commitment to the Kashmir Premier League.

The PCB, in its statement, alleged that the BCCI is trying to threaten other member boards with regards to the participation of players in the KPL and that it would take up the matter on ICC forums.

However, the BCCI has said that it has no issues with PCB putting up a statement and that they are only bothered about India and Indian cricket.

“We are not bothered about what statement PCB is putting out. We are mindful of Indian cricket and India,” said the BCCI official.

The KPL is a six-team tournament with POK being one of the six teams.

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