England Players’ Participation in PSL 2025 in Doubt: ECB’s NOC Policy Sparks Uncertainty
By CA Cricket Staff
England’s cricket players are seeking clarity from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding their eligibility for No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. The players are in talks with the ECB after being selected during the PSL 2025 draft held in Lahore.
Among those selected, James Vince has been retained by Karachi Kings, while Chris Jordan and David Willey will return to Multan Sultans for the new season. Additionally, Peshawar Zalmi picked Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Sam Billings and Tom Curran were chosen by Lahore Qalandars on January 13.
The 2025 PSL will run from April 10 to May 25, overlapping with the start of the English cricket season for the first time. The County Championship Division One begins on March 4, creating a potential scheduling conflict for England’s top players.
The players are particularly concerned following the ECB’s announcement of a new NOC policy in November 2024, which restricts approval for participation in overseas leagues during the English summer. This includes leagues like the PSL, CPL, and MLC, though the ECB has allowed exceptions for the IPL. The new policy has raised frustrations among players and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), who have voiced disappointment, claiming it strains their relationship with the ECB.
However, according to a report by ESPNCricinfo, top English players such as Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, and David Willey are still expected to be granted NOCs for the PSL, despite the policy’s restrictions. The ECB’s “consultation group” will review the requests based on the criteria established in November. Players with white-ball contracts or those open to renegotiating their multi-format contracts are more likely to receive the NOCs.
The situation is more complicated for Tom Kohler-Cadmore and James Vince, who are both on all-format contracts with Somerset and Hampshire, respectively. If they are granted NOCs, they would miss the first six matches of the 2025 County Championship Division One season.