PCB Set To Deny NOCs As Over 30 Pakistan Players Enter APL Draft
Diplomatic friction with Afghanistan looks set to keep Pakistani cricketers out of the Afghanistan Premier League despite heavy interest in the draft.
The Pakistan Cricket Board appears ready to turn down No Objection Certificate requests from its players hoping to feature in the Afghanistan Premier League and other foreign franchise competitions. More than 30 Pakistani cricketers have put their names forward for the APL draft, and their chances of playing now look slim.
A PCB spokesperson gave little away when Cricbuzz asked whether clearances would be granted, replying simply: "I don't think so." The board's stance is understood to stem from the strained diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Cricket Board's own auction list acknowledges the situation, noting that Pakistani players will only be available if the PCB issues the required NOCs. Names on the draft register include Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique and Imad Wasim.
The tournament will involve five sides, each permitted a squad of up to 18, with players split across several price categories.
One player may sidestep the issue entirely. Mohammad Amir, the former Pakistan fast bowler, has signed up for the APL as a British citizen, having settled in England and obtained a UK passport. The same report suggests he is also weighing entry into the IPL 2027 auction, scheduled for December 16 in Goa, under the same status.