Sahibzada Farhan, a Pakistan cricket batter contracted to Nepal Premier League side Karnali Yaks, is returning home after selection for the national team's One Day International series against Sri Lanka, while his franchise contests an additional no-objection certificate payment sought by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Why Farhan is leaving the NPL
Karnali Yaks said Pakistan has called Farhan up for the ODIs against Sri Lanka. Club director Grihendra Ghimire said Farhan is likely to rejoin the NPL after the national side's match on October 31. Until then, Karnali is preparing to bring in another player as a short-term cover. The franchise has also signed Hussain Talat, another Pakistani.
Ghimire said Karnali had been weighing whether to pay an extra fee to keep Farhan available in the league. Once the national call-up came through, that debate ended: Farhan had to leave for Pakistan cricket duty first.
The US$25,000 NOC dispute
According to Ghimire, the PCB has demanded an additional US$25,000 to issue no-objection certificates (NOCs)—formal board clearances that allow players to appear in overseas competitions—for Pakistani cricketers who joined the NPL. He said the request came after the players had already arrived in Nepal with NOCs in hand, which left the club dissatisfied.
"Our aim in bringing Pakistani players to the NPL is not only to watch them play but also to invest in the development of Nepali cricket," Ghimire said, adding that Nepali cricket is still at a developmental stage and that a last-minute extra demand was saddening. He linked foreign signings to efforts to raise the standard and popularity of the game in Nepal, and said friction at the start of the tournament had left them disappointed.
What Karnali says comes next
Ghimire made clear that Karnali does not treat the episode as something that will damage relations with Pakistan. He said Pakistani players will still be needed and that the problem should be settled while keeping mutual ties intact. With Farhan away for national duty, the club's immediate plan is a temporary replacement, with Farhan expected to return after the October 31 match.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Start of the NPL: Ghimire said a dispute surfaced when the PCB sought an extra US$25,000 for NOCs covering Pakistani players.
- After players arrived in Nepal: Clearances were already in place; Karnali objected to a further payment demand.
- National call-up: Farhan was selected for Pakistan's ODIs against Sri Lanka, so he had to leave the franchise for the interim.
- October 31: Farhan is expected to rejoin Karnali Yaks after Pakistan's match that day, with a stand-in planned until then.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan cricket ke player Sahibzada Farhan Nepal ke NPL se wapas aa rahe hain kyunke unhein Sri Lanka ke against ODI ke liye select kiya gaya hai. Karnali Yaks ka kehna hai ke PCB ne Pakistani players ke NOC ke liye extra 25,000 dollar maange. Farhan 31 October ke match ke baad shayad dubara NPL join kar sakte hain. Fans ke liye seedha matlab yeh hai ke pehle qomi duty, league baad mein.
