Pakistan players set to participate in Abu Dhabi T10

The Abu Dhabi T10, the world’s only ten-over international cricket event approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and licensed by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), will include Pakistan players after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to give No Objection Certificates (NOC) to the participants.

The event will run from January 28 to February 6, 2021 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Pacer Mohammad Amir (Pune Devils), all-rounder Shoaib Malik (Maratha Arabians) and pacer Wahab Riaz (Northern Warriors) are already confirmed to take part in the event.

The leagues includes eight teams, Team Abu Dhabi, Maratha Arabians, Bangla Tigers, Deccan Gladiators, Qalandars, Delhi Bulls, Northern Warriors, and Pune Devils.

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Pakistan players, who will be selected for South Africa home series, will have to return and join the bio-secure bubble in Lahore by February 3, 2021. While the rest can take part in the event until its conclusion.

PCB Director Media Samiul Hassan Burney also confirmed the development, stating that the players who want to participate in the event will be granted the NOCs.

Last year, the PCB had revoked the NOCs issued to its players, 16 in total, over workload concerns. Although, sources had later revealed that the decision was taken on the orders of a high-ranking government official whose “friend” was unhappy with the organisers of the league. This “friend” is also associated with one of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises.

The relationship between the PCB and ECB also suffered because of this step, while also significantly affecting Qalandars’ team. ECB vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni also wrote a letter to PCB Chairman, Ehsan Mani, inorder to express his disappointment over the decision.