Just one day after losing to India in the Asia Cup 2025 final, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a major announcement.
On September 29, PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed issued a notice.
It clearly stated: “With the approval of the PCB Chairman, all No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players with respect to participation in leagues and other out-of-country tournaments are hereby put on hold until further orders.”
This means that all NOCs for players for foreign leagues and tournaments are suspended until further orders.
This move came after Pakistan lost three times to India in the Asia Cup, losing in the group stage, Super Four, and final.
How did Pakistani stars get trapped in foreign leagues?
This decision caused the most embarrassment in the American and Canadian leagues. In franchise leagues in the US, veterans like Sohail Tanvir (Atlanta Kings), Wahab Riaz (Chicago Cricket Club), and Rumman Raees (Los Angeles Waves) were barred from playing until they received new approvals.
In the Canadian T10 League (Super60), which begins today, October 8, in Vancouver, Shoaib Malik (White Rock Warriors) and Saeed Ajmal (Mississauga Masters) also needed updated NOCs. Teams had to make last-minute player changes, disrupting the entire schedule.
The PCB’s notice was unclear as to whether the ban applied only to active players or also to retired ones, leading to widespread confusion. The league officials declared,
“No entry without a valid NOC!”
Wahab Riaz intervened and addressed the situation. Despite being a former chief selector, he remains associated with the PCB and was also a commentator in the Asia Cup.
According to Cricket Pakistan, their intervention resolved the issue of retired players’ NOCs.
It’s now clear that the ban primarily affects active cricketers, but complete clarity remains elusive.
Is there a crisis for Pakistani players’ entry into the BBL?
At present, all eyes are on the 2025-26 Big Bash League (BBL), which will kick off in Australia on December 14th.
Seven Pakistani stars, including Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Brisbane Heat), Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades), Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf, and Shadab Khan, had already been drafted.
But the NOC ban casts doubt on their participation. The overlap with the ILT20 and Lanka Premier League also added to the difficulties.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said he hopes Pakistani stars will still play, as their presence gives the BBL global appeal.
