The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly put a hold on issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to players intending to join overseas T20 leagues, following the national team’s loss to India in the Asia Cup 2025 final. Pakistan lost three matches to India, including a highly controversial final.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the decision to pause NOCs came the day after Pakistan’s Asia Cup final loss. PCB Chief of Operations Sumair Ahmad Syed sent a notice to players and their agents, stating that players will not be allowed to play in foreign T20 leagues for the time being.
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“With the approval of Chairman PCB, all No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players with respect to participation in leagues and other out-of-country tournaments are hereby put on hold until further orders,” the notice read.
Performance-based decision
Reports suggest that NOCs are usually granted based on an internal performance evaluation by the PCB. Players who do not meet the required standards may be blocked from tournaments such as the ILT20 and Australia’s Big Bash League, both scheduled to begin later this year.
The move is also seen as a way to keep top players available for domestic competitions, including Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, starting in October
High-profile players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi are among those impacted. Seven Pakistani players set to play in the Big Bash League and 16 others signed up for the ILT20 now face uncertainty over their participation.
‘Felt like a cartoon’: Naqvi breaks silence on Asia Cup trophy
After the Asia Cup final, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi decided to take the trophy and the winners’ medals back from the ceremony, keeping them in his Dubai hotel room.
BCCI officials joined an ACC meeting virtually on Tuesday, demanding that the trophy and medals be returned to India, noting that they are not the personal property of anyone. However, Naqvi refused to comply.
During the meeting, Naqvi expressed frustration that he was not informed about India’s decision not to accept the trophy from him. He had arrived at the podium hoping to hand over the medals and trophy to Suryakumar Yadav and the Indian team but ended up waiting on stage, feeling “like a cartoon,” as the Indian players did not come forward to receive them.
