ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued limited no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Pakistani cricketers for participation in the upcoming 13th season of Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). In consideration of the workload of players and the national men’s team’s future tours program, the PCB has granted NOCs to Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan.
However, these NOCs come with a specific condition – they apply only to “specific matches” and not the entire tournament, as announced in the PCB’s press release. This decision, according to the board, is a strategic balance between ensuring players get valuable game time and effective workload management.
Haris Rauf, a key figure in Pakistan’s pace attack representing the Melbourne Stars, has been granted permission to feature in five matches. Similarly, Usama Mir (Melbourne Stars) and Zaman Khan (Sydney Thunder) have received NOCs for five and four matches, respectively. The allocation of these NOCs within a specific timeframe aims to allow players to balance their participation in the BBL with their national commitments.
Pakistani Players Participation in BBL
National cricketers have been cleared to participate in Australia’s premier tournament, which is scheduled to run from December 7 to December 28, 2023. This decision is expected to bring relief to the Melbourne Stars, who were awaiting clearance for Haris Rauf. The team had temporarily filled the gap by summoning England’s Olly Stone.
Melbourne Stars recently announced the signing of recently-retired Pakistan star Imad Wasim as a replacement for England’s Liam Dawson. The team’s BBL 13 squad includes a mix of international and local talent, with a focus on striking a balance between experience and emerging players.
