LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to national cricketers wishing to participate in the upcoming Afghanistan Premier League (APL).
According to sources, legendary former captain Wasim Akram was offered a mentorship role in the league.
However, he declined the offer to remain aligned with the PCB’s official stance and policy guidelines.
The board reiterated that national players and officials must follow the board’s policy framework, and no NOC requests for this league will be entertained.
Meanwhile, former Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir has joined the APL by registering as a British citizen following his acquisition of a UK passport, allowing him to participate as an overseas recruit without requiring an NOC from the PCB.
Note on PCB’s Policy for Players Participating in Foreign Leagues
The Pakistan Cricket Board operates under a regulated policy framework regarding the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to govern national players’ involvement in overseas franchise cricket tournaments.
The policy seeks to maintain a clear balance between a player’s individual commercial opportunities and national priorities, including international fixtures, domestic cricket participation, and injury management.
Under central contract guidelines, the PCB typically places caps on the maximum number of foreign leagues a contracted cricketer may enter in a single calendar year, in addition to the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Clearance remains subject to technical evaluations of player workload, physical fitness assessments, and freedom from conflicts with domestic or national team schedules.
Furthermore, participation is restricted to events formally sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The PCB retains discretionary authority to decline or revoke NOC clearance based on strategic requirements, high-risk physical workloads prior to major ICC tournaments, or institutional directives.
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While retired players or non-contracted individuals operate with relative flexibility—or leverage alternative diplomatic/citizenship statuses to bypass local board restrictions—active national representatives must obtain explicit written clearance from the board prior to signing contracts with foreign league franchises.
