Pakistan players' places in the Nepal Premier League are uncertain after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the T20 competition that begins on Monday.
People involved with the league said even players who had earlier been given NOCs were told that permission to take part was on hold. League-side sources also said the PCB wanted a fee for the clearances, said to be around USD 25,000 for each Pakistan player. That demand has not been confirmed in writing to the tournament. It is still unclear whether any fee is the real sticking point, or whether one has formally been sought. The PCB did not immediately reply when asked for comment.
Who is affected and where they are
The Pakistan group linked to the NPL includes T20 captain Sahibzada Farhan, Haider Ali, Hunain Shah, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali and Usama Mir. None of them are in a Pakistan squad that overlaps with the league's dates.
Several of those players are already in Kathmandu, where the matches are to be played. Others who were set to travel are understood to have put trips on hold until the NOC issue is settled.
Tournament window and contract backdrop
The NPL fields eight teams and is scheduled from 26 October to 21 November. For fans following Pakistan talent abroad, the immediate question is whether those names can take the field once the first ball is bowled.
Earlier this year the PCB outlined a new central-contract setup that separated white-ball and red-ball roles. It included a "format track D" for T20 specialists, which in principle would let those players join overseas T20 leagues when they had no PCB international duty. The board has not said publicly which track any player is on, or whether that structure is already in force. None of the Pakistan players tied to this year's NPL are currently in the country's ODI or Test plans.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Earlier this year: The PCB announced a revised central-contract structure, including a T20-specialist track meant to free players for overseas leagues when free of national duty.
- Ahead of the NPL: Pakistan players were lined up for the Kathmandu tournament; some NOCs had reportedly been issued, then put on hold.
- 26 October: The eight-team Nepal Premier League is due to start.
- 21 November: The league is scheduled to finish.
What remains open
Until the PCB issues clear NOCs—or explains the hold—the Pakistan contingent's status for the Nepal Premier League stays unresolved. Players already in Nepal, and those still waiting to travel, are left depending on that clearance before they can take a full part in the competition.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ke kai players Nepal Premier League mein khelne wale the, lekin PCB ne abhi NOC nahi diya. Kathmandu mein kuch players pehle se maujood hain, kuch ne safar rok diya hai. League 26 October se 21 November tak chalegi. Jab tak PCB clear permission nahi deta, in players ka khelna mushkil hai.
