PCB won’t stop players from playing in SLPL: Board official

The board has made it clear that he would have to apply for a fresh NOC for playing in the SLPL, which has run into trouble after the Indian board refused to allow its players to play in the T20 league.

Pakistan Cricket Board has no intentions of stopping any player from playing in the Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL) next month, PCB Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad said today.

The official also dismissed reports that the PCB would not issue a No Objection Certificate to former national One-day cricket captain Shahid Afridi for the league after his recent clash with the Board.

“As far as Afridi is concerned we have not received any request, either directly from him or the organisers of the league requesting for clearing him to play in the tournament,” Ahmad told PTI before leaving for Hong Kong to attend the ICC board meetings.

“So far the organisers of the league have approached us directly for giving NOCs to players including Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Hafeez amongst others and we have given them the required NOCs. As and when we get a request for issuing NOC to Afridi, I don’t see any problem in issuing him the required clearance,” he added.

The board has given NOC to Shahid Afridi to go and play for Hampshire but made it clear that he would have to apply for a fresh NOC for playing in the SLPL, which has run into trouble after the Indian board refused to allow its players to play in the T20 league.

Ahmad made it clear that, unlike the Indian Cricket Board, the PCB had no issues with sending its players to take part in the SLPL.

“It is a tournament being organized by the Sri Lankan Cricket board so we see no problems in it. We are happy that our players are getting an opportunity to get more exposure and earn money,” he said.

Stating that, so far, the PCB had been approached directly by the Sri Lankan authorities for clearance of the players, Ahmad said, “Everything is being done through proper channels.”

The official also defended board’s decision to allow its top players to go and play in England at a time when the domestic T20 tournament is being held in Faisalabad.

“The board felt that most of these players needed more exposure at the international level and it would help them more to go and play in English conditions,” he explained.

Ahmad further stated the ongoing domestic tournament was an event for the top eight teams of the last national T20 tournament.

“This year’s national T20 event will be held later in the year and we will ensure participation of all top players.”