The England Cricket Board (ECB) has reportedly banned its players from participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and other franchise leagues that coincide with the domestic summer season.
The decision aims to safeguard the quality of domestic cricket in England. The ban applies to all franchise tournaments, except for the Indian Premier League (IPL), which remains exempt due to its status as the most lucrative cricket league globally.
This policy could significantly impact England cricket, with concerns that some players may choose to end their red-ball careers to focus on franchise opportunities. However, the ECB believes the move will enhance domestic cricket.
The ECB reportedly plans to stop issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players participating in leagues that clash with domestic cricket unless they hold a white-ball-only contract. Players will also be barred from competing in leagues overlapping with The Hundred or T20 Blast and from participating in tournaments suspected of corruption. Additionally, cricketers are prohibited from “double-dipping,” i.e., switching to a new tournament after being eliminated from another happening simultaneously.
This decision complicates matters for players who rely on franchise leagues as a significant income source. In 2025, the T20 Blast and The Hundred will overlap with Major League Cricket, Canada’s Global T20 League, and Sri Lanka’s Premier League, while the Caribbean Premier League begins in late August. The PSL 2025, scheduled for April, was expected to attract several England players, but the ban now restricts their participation.
Players not involved in first-class cricket are also prohibited from missing domestic white-ball games for other T20 leagues. Earlier this year, Jason Roy skipped T20 Blast matches for Surrey to play in Major League Cricket and the Caribbean Premier League, while Alex Hales missed Blast fixtures for Nottinghamshire to join the Lanka Premier League.
“We need to protect the integrity of our sport and the strength of our competitions in England and Wales as well,” said ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould.
“This policy gives clarity to players and professional counties around our approach to issuing No Objection Certificates. It will enable us to strike the right balance between supporting players who want to take up opportunities to earn and gain experience, while also protecting the integrity of cricket globally, ensuring we don’t undermine our own ECB competitions, and managing the welfare of centrally contracted England players.”
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
