According to sources, most of the players picked for the BPL are also part of Pakistan’s core national squad creating an unavoidable clash of schedules.
Insiders suggest that regular members of the T20 lineup may not be granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs), though the final decision will be made on a case by case basis, leaving room for selective participation.
One source noted that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not outright rejected the issuance of NOCs, but BPL franchises are already aware of the delicate situation and may begin searching for backup options.
The BPL is slated to run from December 26 to January 23, a window during which Pakistan will be touring Sri Lanka, followed shortly by a home series against Australia. With such a tight cricket calendar, the possibility of full BPL participation for Pakistan players looks increasingly slim.
Several Pakistani cricketers, Saim Ayub, Khawaja Nafay, Sufiyan Muqeem, Sahibzada Farhan, and Mohammad Nawaz have been drafted, along with Jehanndad Khan, Ihsanullah, Haider Ali, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Amir. Among them, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Nawaz, Usman Khan, and Abrar Ahmed are regular fixtures in Pakistan’s T20 squad.
Pakistan’s three T20 clashes against Sri Lanka are scheduled for January 7, 9, and 11 at the Dambulla Stadium dates that sit right in the middle of the BPL schedule, making the overlap impossible to ignore.
For now, uncertainty hangs in the air, and both the PCB and BPL teams appear to be navigating the situation with cautious optimism. As one official put it, Pakistan’s cricket calendar is packed to the brim, leaving little room for extended franchise commitments.
