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Major League Cricket (MLC) franchises are reportedly considering restricting the signing of Pakistani players following a fresh dispute involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The move is not believed to be politically motivated but stems from growing frustration among team owners over the PCB's alleged practice of demanding substantial payments before issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to its players.
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According to reports, the issue has left several MLC franchises questioning whether signing Pakistani cricketers is financially viable in future editions of the tournament.
MLC owners reportedly unhappy with PCB's NOC policy
As per PakPassion, citing a source close to an MLC franchise owner, the PCB has allegedly been demanding an undisclosed fee of $25,000 (approximately ₹24 lakh) per player before granting an NOC, a mandatory ICC document required for participation in overseas franchise leagues.
The report claimed that the practice has been described as "extortion" by some franchise owners because the fee structure is not publicly communicated during negotiations. Instead, teams are allegedly informed of the payment requirement only after player recruitment has been completed, leaving franchises with little room to find replacements.
The report further stated that MLC owners have raised the matter directly with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, arguing that the absence of a transparent policy makes the demand unfair. However, they were reportedly told that the PCB considers the payment to be within its rights.
"It's more the extortion the PCB does. Basically, through the year, they won't say anything. And then right towards the start of the tournament, when they have to give their NOCs, they send an email saying that for the NOC, it will be $25,000 for each player," the report said.
Pakistan players could face unofficial ban from future MLC seasons
The controversy has reportedly prompted MLC owners to discuss imposing a shadow ban on recruiting Pakistani cricketers in future seasons to avoid similar disputes.
This season, Haris Rauf remains the only Pakistani player featuring in the competition after the San Francisco Unicorns reportedly agreed to pay the required amount for his NOC.
While it is common for cricket boards to receive compensation when their players participate in franchise leagues, the report noted that MLC does not have a formal policy requiring such payments. It also claimed that the PCB is currently the only cricket board seeking this type of compensation from MLC franchises.
Adding to the concerns, the report alleged that even after the fee is paid, franchises are not guaranteed uninterrupted player availability, as the PCB can reportedly revoke an NOC and require another payment if a fresh clearance becomes necessary. The growing uncertainty has now reportedly pushed MLC owners to reconsider the future involvement of Pakistani players in the league.
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