Introduction of wild-card pick could see Pakistan stars playing SA20 league

Pakistan cricket stars could be seen in Cricket South Africa's SA20 league after the introduction of additional wildcard entries.

According to details, the Men in Green players were not part of the main player auction due to the home T20I series against West Indies. The series has been postponed, allowing Pakistan players to make themselves available for the league.

ALSO READ: Pakistan cricketers allowed to play South Africa's T20 League - Report

As per reports, teams can pick players as a wildcard pick post T20 World Cup. The process will allow each team to pick one extra player in their squads, and at least two Pakistani players who do not have PCB central contracts are aiming to secure deals.

PCB has also allowed contracted players to play in the league, where all the teams are owned by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises.

Pakistan players were not part of the main auction due to the busy home international season but there was also a notion that their players won't be picked because owners of IPL teams own the franchises; Pakistan players have been effectively barred from the IPL since 2008 because of poor relations between the governments of India and Pakistan.

Apart from the SA20, the ILT20 (in the UAE), Australia's BBL, and the BPL in Bangladesh are all on simultaneously, and the PSL is set to start in early February.

PCB has decided not to give NOCs for the ILT20. Mohammad Hasnain and Azam Khan were both denied NOCs for the league earlier. Both players were in contention to sign a deal with Desert Vipers, one of the teams in the league that is not Indian-owned