Pakistani cricketers, including Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, and Azam Khan, have been cleared to participate in the Abu Dhabi T10 league commencing this weekend. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has struck an agreement with the Abu Dhabi T10 (ADT10), which secures a lump sum payment to the PCB in exchange for granting the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to the players. Additionally, Pakistani cricketers will have access to the training facilities at the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub for the forthcoming year.
Cricinfo has learned that the deal, agreed upon just two days before the tournament’s kickoff, involves a payment smaller than the USD 10,000 per player NOC initially requested by the PCB for the 16 athletes chosen during the draft on September 30th. A PCB official mentioned that the revised terms are considered more advantageous for Pakistan cricket than the initial financial compensation sought.
The clearance process met delays as the PCB requested a fee for player availability despite ADT10’s earlier NOC application after the draft over a month ago. This marks the second instance in recent months where the PCB has imposed a late fee for NOC issuance, a similar demand having been made in October concerning the Nepal Premier League (NPL), where a USD 25,000 fee per player was requested. This occurred after NOCs had already been issued, inconveniencing Pakistani players who had already travelled to Nepal.
Historically, the PCB has alternated its approach to NOC fees for franchise league participation. This issue first emerged during the launch of the International League T20 (ILT20). The PCB’s rationale has stemmed from a perceived lack of desirable reciprocal player arrangements from leagues where PCB involvement might enhance league prominence.
Amid limited international opportunities due to complex geopolitical relations between Pakistan and neighbouring countries, particularly India, there is concern among Pakistani players that such unpredictable PCB policies may further restrict their participation opportunities abroad. Foreign leagues might begin favouring players from other nations to mitigate additional costs or hassles.
Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi contributes as a cricket journalist from Lahore.
