Cricket Australia (CA) has expressed concern over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) recent decision to withhold No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for foreign leagues, with officials now in direct contact with the board to secure Pakistani participation in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL), Aaj News reported.
According to the report, the participation of Pakistani cricketers in the 15th edition of the BBL has been thrown into doubt after the PCB introduced a new NOC policy, which links approvals to players’ performance in international and domestic cricket.
Previously issued NOCs for upcoming tournaments, including the BBL, have also been cancelled under the revised framework.
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Despite the uncertainty, CA Chief Executive Todd Greenberg expressed optimism, stating that discussions with the PCB were ongoing.
“We’ve been in constant contact with PCB officials over the past few days and expect positive progress. We look forward to welcoming Pakistani players in the BBL, as they add tremendous value to the league,” Greenberg said.
The Australian cricket community has been eager to see top Pakistani stars, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan among those expected to feature this season.
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Franchises, including the Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars, had even allocated special sections in their stadiums in honour of Afridi and Rauf.
While the PCB’s revised NOC policy has drawn criticism in some quarters, CA has maintained a cautious and diplomatic stance, expressing hope that an agreement will be reached before the tournament begins in December. For now, franchises and players await further clarity from the PCB on the matter.
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