Pakistan players permitted to play in three overseas competitions after PCB climbdown

After no objection certificates were revoked for the T10 League, players threatened to revolt but a compromise appears to have been reached

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The Pakistan Cricket Board will allow their players to feature in three overseas leagues a year after an alteration to their stance regarding the activity of their star performers.

A change in the policy comes after the PCB faced a revolt following their decision to withdraw the No Objection Certificates ahead of last year's T10 League, which blocked their players from competing.

Previously, players had been allowed to play in at least one other foreign league as well as the Pakistan Super League, with additional deals assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Nevertheless, the PCB often cut-short those spells and requested players return home for fitness tests or participate in training camps.

Their actions on the eve of the T10 League, which particularly hurt Lahore Qalanders, led to an angry reaction from certain players and sparked showdown talks with the PCB in November.

Such discussions have led to a change in policy which will allow players to play in three ICC-accredited leagues across the globe, in addition to the PSL.

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NOCs will still be required and will need approval by PCB chief executive Wasim Khan and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq, who also operates as chief selector. The specifics regarding the agreements will be announced in due course.

"The Board of Governors approved the No Objection Certificate guidelines for cricketers," a PCB statement read.

"Amongst other guidelines, the policy allows centrally contracted players to seek clearance for up to a maximum of three ICC-approved foreign leagues, excluding the HBL Pakistan Super League, as long they don't coincide with the PCB-organised events and player workloads and fitness regimes are properly managed. 

"The CEO shall have a final approval right. Further details on the NOC policy will be announced in due course."

Elsewhere, the PCB will wait until an upcoming meeting of the Asian Cricket Council before confirming whether they intend to host the Asia Cup.

Pakistan are set to host the six-team competition, however, holders India have confirmed they will withdraw from the competition unless their matches are moved - amid the increasingly fractious relationship between the two nations.

A final decision on the future of the competition, which was switched to the United Arab Emirates in 2018 amid similar issues, will be made in March.