New ECB policy leaves English players uncertain about PSL participation

English cricketers are seeking clarification from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) after they were drafted to play in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) during the draft in Lahore on Monday.

Several players, including Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Peshawar Zalmi), Sam Billings, and Tom Curran (both Lahore Qalandars), were drafted, while James Vince (Karachi Kings), Chris Jordan, and David Willey (both Multan Sultans) were retained from previous seasons. 

The PSL has moved to an April-May window for 2025, which overlaps with the start of the English cricket season. This change has led to concerns about a clash with the ECB’s new policy that limits players from receiving NOCs to play in overseas leagues during the English summer. This includes the PSL, Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and Major League Cricket (MLC), with the exception of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The new policy, announced in late November, has sparked disappointment among players. ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould explained that the policy was introduced to "defend our game," but it has caused frustration within the cricketing community. The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) expressed its dissatisfaction, saying their relationship with the ECB had been negatively affected by the change.

Under the new policy, players with white-ball contracts can still receive NOCs for overseas competitions, as long as they don’t overlap with the T20 Blast or The Hundred. Initially, the ECB had planned to prevent players with red-ball commitments from missing County Championship fixtures to play in overseas leagues. However, following pressure from players and agents, the ECB softened its stance on this.

As things stand, players like Billings, Curran, Jordan, and Willey are expected to receive NOCs for the PSL. The ECB has set up an NOC "consultation group" that will review requests based on the policy introduced in November.

For players like Kohler-Cadmore and Vince, who are on all-format contracts with their counties (Somerset and Hampshire), the situation is more complicated. They are evaluating their options, as playing in the PSL could mean missing several early County Championship matches.

The PSL is scheduled to run from April 8 to May 19, and this timing could affect players' availability for the start of the English domestic season.

Additionally, six England central contract players, including Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid, were registered for the PSL draft but marked as "unavailable" after the ECB confirmed it would not grant them NOCs.

The PCA has been in talks with the ECB to find solutions to the restrictions, working closely with its members and legal team. They are continuing to consult with the ECB, with each NOC request being reviewed on a case-by-case basis.