Daily Times

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that national players with central contracts can participate in the Bangladesh Premier League and the Global T20 League if they ascertain that they will be available to play the National Twenty20 Cup between November 7 to 23. Setting a ‘precondition’ for its centrally contracted players, the PCB has said that the domestic tournament will ‘take precedence over global leagues.’ The National T20 Cup was earlier scheduled in September but was postponed due to the arrival of the World XI team. The new dates for the National T20 Cup now clash with the BPL and the Global T20 League, both of which have signed up some Pakistan players who also have central contracts with the PCB. “The PCB has decided that all centrally contracted players who are not facing any other restriction must also participate in PCB’s T20 tournament to strengthen Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure.,” said a spokesman for the PCB on Saturday.

The BPL lasts from November 2 to December 10, while the Global T20 begins on November 3, with the final taking place on December 16. “Keeping in view the good relationship with the Bangladesh and South Africa cricket boards, no objection certificates will be issued to all centrally-contracted players to play the BPL and Global T20 League, subject to the condition that they must be available to play PCB’s T20 Tournament between the dates of November 7 and 17,” the spokesman added. Eight Pakistan players, included centrally contracted ones like Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Fakhar Zaman and Yasir Shah had been initially signed by franchises in the T20 Global League. Of these, Umar Akmal’s participation has been revoked following his breach of contract, while Junaid Khan is set to participate in the BPL. The BPL, meanwhile, is set to feature more than a dozen Pakistan players. Retired players like Shahid Afridi, Misbahul Haq, Younus Khan and players like Mohammad Sami and Sohail Tanvir – who are not centrally contracted – will be given NOCs without any such commitment.

Eight Pakistan players, included centrally contracted ones like Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Fakhar Zaman and Yasir Shah had been initially signed by franchises in the T20 Global League. Of these, Umar Akmal’s participation has been revoked following his breach of contract, while Junaid Khan is set to participate in the BPL. The BPL, meanwhile, is set to feature more than a dozen Pakistani players. The PCB has clarified that retired and non-centrally contracted players, like Afridi, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir and Misbah-ul-Haq, can be released at the start of the National T20 Cup or according to their league commitments.

Cricket South Africa, meanwhile, will make provisions for franchises to replace players who are unavailable. If a franchise has bought an overseas player, it will likely be able to replace him with another overseas player if the original is not available. The scheduling of the National T20 Cup has already created some uncertainty for players. In August, the board revoked the No-Objection Certificates of 13 players participating in the Caribbean Premier League and the English domestic season, asking them to return home and fulfill national and domestic commitments, including the T20 Cup. However, a few days later, PCB chairman Najam Sethi said the National T20 Cup had been postponed and the players could return to their franchise sides and counties after undergoing fitness tests. The year’s National T20 Cup will feature eight teams and will be played in Multan and Faisalabad.

Published in Daily Times, October 1^st 2017.