In a surprising turn of events, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris is heading back from Dhaka without participating in the BPL 2024 as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declined to grant him a no-objection certificate (NOC). Haris had initially aimed to represent Chattogram Challengers in the tenth edition of the BPL, but his request for a NOC was rejected by the PCB, citing his involvement in two leagues since July 2023 as the reason.
The 22-year-old cricketer, who played in Canada’s Global T20 League in July and the Lanka Premier League in August 2023, shared his disappointment or frustration on Instagram with a photo of his packed bags, indicating his unplanned return to Peshawar.
Notably, several other players, including Saim Ayub, Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Iftikhar Ahmed, also faced NOC denials, preventing their participation in the BPL 2024. This affected their signings with various teams like Fortune Barishal, Comilla Victorians, and Durdanto Dhaka.
Interestingly, wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan, who has participated in two leagues (GT20 Canada and Caribbean Premier League) since July 2023, received an NOC for the ongoing second season of International League T20 (ILT20). The distinction arises from Azam not being under a central contract, freeing him from the same obligations as Haris, who holds a central contract, restricting him to participation in only two leagues.
Meanwhile, prominent players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Mohammad Rizwan, and Abbas Afridi are gearing up for their journey from Christchurch to Dhaka on Monday. They are set to represent Comilla Victorians, Rangpur Riders, Khulna Tigers, and Fortune Barishal, respectively, in the ongoing BPL 2024 season.
Several other Pakistani cricket stars, including Usman Qadir, Faheem Ashraf, and Khushdil Shah, are already active participants in the BPL 2024, which commenced on January 19. The PCB had earlier granted NOCs to players for their involvement in franchise-based leagues, aligning with the provisions of the players’ central contracts. The decision aimed to balance game time with workload management, considering the interests of all stakeholders involved.
Players who were part of the T20Is in New Zealand are set to join their respective leagues shortly. However, pacers Ihsanullah, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Hasnain were not given NOCs, keeping the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and T20 World Cup in mind. On the other hand, players with contracts in ILT20 are exempted from this requirement, having been signed by franchises before the central contracts came into play.