The Nepal Premier League (NPL) begins on Monday amid uncertainty over the participation of several Pakistan cricketers, with their no-objection certificates (NOCs) reportedly put on hold by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
According to a report by Cricbuzz, the uncertainty has affected even players who had previously received clearance to feature in the tournament. With the league set to run from October 26 to November 21 in Kathmandu, the delay has left franchises waiting for clarity over the availability of their overseas recruits.
The report also indicates that a fee could be at the centre of the dispute, with individuals involved in the NPL claiming the PCB had sought around USD 25,000 per Pakistani player for issuing NOCs.
However, it remains unclear whether the amount has been formally demanded, and no written request to that effect has been independently confirmed.
Among the Pakistan players expected to feature in the competition are T20 captain Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haider Ali, Hussain Talat, Usama Mir and Hunain Shah. While some have already reached Kathmandu, others are understood to have postponed their travel as the situation remains unresolved.
The timing of the issue is particularly significant, with the NPL beginning today and franchises potentially facing last-minute changes to their playing combinations. None of the players named are understood to be unavailable because of a clash with Pakistan’s international schedule.
The uncertainty also raises questions about the PCB’s reported plans for a revised central-contract system that would distinguish between red-ball and white-ball players, including a category for T20 specialists. Whether that framework has formally taken effect, and how it applies to players seeking overseas league opportunities remains unclear.
For the NPL, the immediate priority is resolving the NOC impasse before it disrupts teams’ plans at the start of the tournament.