Pakistan Players’ NPL Participation in Doubt Amid PCB NOC Uncertainty

Several Pakistani cricketers signed for the Nepal Premier League (NPL) are facing uncertainty over their availability after reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has put their no-objection certificates (NOCs) on hold. The situation has created late complications for franchises preparing for the tournament, with some players already in Nepal and others reportedly delaying travel while the matter is discussed.

Clearance uncertainty raises last-minute questions

Reports citing people connected with the NPL say some players who had previously received clearance were later informed that permission to take part had been suspended. An NOC from a player’s national board is required for participation in the overseas franchise competition, so players cannot be considered fully available until the necessary approval is in place.

People familiar with the league have reportedly said the PCB may be seeking a fee of around US$25,000 per player in connection with issuing NOCs. However, the reporting has not independently established that the board formally submitted the demand in writing, and the fee has not been confirmed as the sole reason for the delay. The PCB had not publicly clarified its position in the reports available at publication time.

Which NPL players could be affected?

The Pakistani players named in reports include Sahibzada Farhan, Haider Ali, Hunain Shah, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali and Usama Mir. Their signings were expected to add international experience to several NPL teams, but uncertainty over clearances could force franchises to revise their plans at short notice.

Karnali Yaks have been linked with Farhan and Talat. A franchise official was reported as saying the team was willing to cover the reported fee for the two players because the franchise had already committed to signing them. That willingness, however, does not itself resolve the clearance issue.

There is also a separate development concerning Farhan: subsequent reporting says he has been called into Pakistan’s ODI squad and is expected to return home, which would affect his availability for Karnali Yaks’ opening matches. This is distinct from the wider NOC uncertainty affecting Pakistani players.

Contract rules remain unclear

The PCB announced changes to its central-contract framework earlier this year, including a proposed category known as Format Track D for players who specialise in T20 cricket. In principle, the arrangement was described as offering greater flexibility for participation in overseas T20 leagues when there is no clash with international commitments.

However, the board has not publicly clarified which of the players involved fall under particular contract categories or whether all aspects of the revised structure have been implemented. The reported NOC delays have therefore raised questions for players and franchises about how the policy is being applied.

What it means for the Nepal Premier League

The NPL’s eight franchises depend on overseas signings as part of their tournament plans. When clearance questions arise close to the start of a competition, teams have limited time to assess replacements, adjust their combinations and communicate reliable availability information to supporters.

For now, the participation of the players affected by the NOC reports should be treated as unconfirmed until the relevant approvals and team announcements are clear. The reported fee remains an allegation rather than a formally verified demand, and no conclusion should be drawn about the PCB’s motives without an official explanation.

Sources and reporting note

This article is an independently paraphrased summary based on reporting by ESPNcricinfo, with context from The Kathmandu Post and its follow-up on Sahibzada Farhan. The reported US$25,000 fee has not been independently confirmed in writing in the cited reporting. Readers should look for official updates from the PCB, Cricket Association of Nepal and the franchises for confirmation.