The participation of Pakistani cricketers in the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 League is uncertain after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly demanded a $10,000 fee per player to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
According to foreign media reports, the PCB imposed the condition just days before the tournament, despite the league organisers submitting NOC applications for Pakistani players immediately after the player draft on September 30.
The late introduction of the fee has put the participating franchises in a difficult position, forcing them to consider whether to pay the additional amount or find replacement players.
Five of the six participating teams picked a total of 16 Pakistani cricketers during the draft. Reports suggest that some of the selected players were even willing to pay the fee from their own salaries to secure their participation in the tournament.
Among the Pakistani players selected in the draft are Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim Jr. This is not the first time the PCB has imposed a fee for issuing NOCs to Pakistani players for overseas leagues. Last month, the board reportedly demanded $25,000 per player for participation in the Nepal Premier League, a condition that prevented several Pakistani cricketers from taking part in the tournament.
