England players decide for legal action against their own board after Pakistan ban

English players are considering legal action against the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) amid reports of the board banning players from franchise T20 leagues. A report in The Telegraph alleged that the ECB might not issue NOCs (No-objection certificates) for players during the English domestic season.

The ECB has banned English players from participating in global franchise leagues, including the Pakistan Super League and Major League Cricket, during the domestic summer. However, the Indian Premier League is an exception to this despite its schedule overlapping with the English domestic summer.

The ECB plans to restrict players from joining franchise leagues that overlap with domestic tournaments like the Vitality Blast and The Hundred. This decision is part of protecting the quality of English domestic cricket. The policy has not yet been officially announced but is expected to be approved next week.

England Players Frustrated Over ECB's Decision to Ban NOCs

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, England players have threatened legal action and called for an emergency meeting to discuss the ECB's proposed restrictions. Players who have white-ball-only county contracts, without central contracts from England, believe this move restricts their opportunities.

The report added that they are discussing their options with the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA). Daryl Mitchell, the PCA's interim chief executive, stated that the PCA's legal team is reviewing the policy and gathering feedback from players and their representatives on its potential impact.

"The PCA's legal team is currently completing a thorough check of the implementation of the policy. The PCA is continuing to source considered opinions and potential consequences of this policy from players and player representatives," Daryl Mitchell told ESPNcricinfo.

Daryl Mitchell said that there was "clear frustration at the lack of time given for consultation, discussion, and debate." He added that players had "strongly expressed their concerns" and raised concerns about "the inconsistencies in which players are likely to be treated."

England Players to Miss Pakistan Super League

The Pakistan Super League will be played in the April-May window next year due to the 2025 Champions Trophy being held in Pakistan and will clash with the early rounds of the County Championship. 16 English players are already signed for the PSL, with many others committed to various non-IPL leagues.

Major League Cricket and Caribbean Premier League

In the 2024 Major League Cricket, Jason Roy was the only England player. He missed part of Surrey's T20 Blast campaign to play in the MLC. He would not receive an NOC in 2025 under new rules. Alex Hales was the only English player in the 2024 Lanka Premier League, which also overlapped with the T20 Blast.

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) also clashes with the T20 Blast's knockout stages. Players from eliminated teams may still join the CPL tournament. In 2024, the ECB worked with Cricket West Indies to avoid a clash between the CPL and The Hundred so that players could be available for both events.

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