KARACHI: Despite reaching an agreement with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will maintain its previous stance of not allowing its centrally contracted players to compete in the Emirates T20 League which is scheduled to commence in December this year. “So far the decision made in the PSL general body meeting stands and the board will not permit its centrally contracted players to feature in the Emirates league,” a senior PCB official was quoted as saying Saturday. On the other hand, the chairman of the Emirates T20 event Dr Nasim Ashraf is upbeat about ironing out the issues with the PCB in the near future. Dr Ashraf, a former PCB chairman, is of the opinion that the Emirates T20 league will help the emerging young players to groom themselves and their participation will be beneficial for Pakistan cricket. “We look forward to working with the PCB to make both the PSL and Emirates T20 League the two most successful cricket events in the global calendar,” said Dr Ashraf. Another league official, giving details, said that five franchise teams will contest for the inaugural title in a 22-match format, to be played over 24 days. “Each squad of 16 will comprise six international players, two emerging players from ICC Full Member countries, three players from the ICC Associate Member nations, two junior players and three UAE cricketers”, the official concluded. Published in Daily Times, July 1st 2018.