'Unhappy' Pakistan cricketers willing to terminate PCB central contracts due to NOC dispute - Reports

Controversies in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have become common today. There have been several disputes between the national players and the PCB. Such a new dispute has arisen in the Pakistan cricket governing body as the players are not pleased with PCB’s stand on not issuing NOCs to the players for playing T20 cricket leagues all around the world.

As per the current PCB policy, the national centrally contracted players can only play two foreign leagues in addition to the Pakistan Super League. However, the players believe that these policies are useless and are limiting their income limit.

Mohammad Haris, Zaman Khan and Fakhar Zaman are willing to break central contracts with PCB

The Pakistan Super League has a stand that the players receive a good amount of monthly salaries, but the players argue that the potential earnings don’t account for participating in foreign leagues. The Pakistani players also have a stand that the restrictions from the Pakistan Super League are unnecessary when they are not free from the national duty.

Now, as per reports in PTI Pakistani players such as Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Haris are willing to terminate their central contracts from PCB and work as free agents to play in foreign leagues for a better earning.

Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Haris were denied the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from playing in the Bangladesh Premier League.

A source told PTI, “The matter has come to a head because recently the board refused NOCs to some players including Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Haris to play in the Bangladesh Premier League on the grounds that they had already played two leagues besides the Pakistan Super League.”

“The players feel that when there is no Pakistan assignment before the PSL why should the board stop them from playing in other leagues where they have good contracts.”

These restrictions were introduced by former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf, who resigned from his position a couple of days back.

As per a report, Pakistan players generally receive USD 1 million to USD 5 million for playing five to six games in any foreign T20 league. Big Pakistan names such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and many more play in many renowned T20 leagues all over the world. However, PCB’s policy is limiting their opportunity to play in more than 2 T20 leagues and also have a good source of income.

A few days back during the ODI World Cup 2023, there were rumors of the former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf not picking up the calls of former Pakistani captain Babar Azam, who wanted to talk to him regarding the pending salaries of the players.

There are many times when players from different countries target to play in different T20 leagues for a better source of income. Such an example is the West Indies, due to which many of their national players don’t want to represent the national side.

However, the instability in the PCB is not a new thing and it is a problem that the board has been facing for a long time.