Pakistani players allowed to participate in the Caribbean Premier League

There is a T20 league played almost every other month and expect for the Indian Premier League (IPL) there are no windows for tournaments. Which means, it is a good possibility that these T20 leagues have a schedule clash with other bilateral series’. Apart from India, all other boards allow their players to participate in such leagues, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, has maintained a mixed stand of late. They have only allowed players a No Objection Certificate if they return well in time for camps ahead of tours.

It was a question if the Pakistan players will be allowed to play in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The PCB has softened its stand to some extent and allowed the contracted players to feature in the tournament. Five out of the six teams in the event will feature at least one Pakistani player in their squad.

Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Lucia Stars and Trinbago Knight Riders have at least one Pakistan cricketer in their ranks. PCB issued a NOC to pacers Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan and Muhammad Irfan who will be representing Barbados Tridents while veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik and Sohail Tanvir will be playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Shahid Afridi and Imad Wasim are set to don the Jamaica Tallawahs colours. St Lucia Stars will feature for Muhammad Sami, Rumman Raees, and Hussain Talat in their ranks. Shadab Khan is a part of the Trinbago Knight Riders.

Pakistani players will be the most watched players: Imran Nazir

Former opening batsman Imran Nazir said that Pakistan players participation in the CPL will improve the stature of the event. “Pakistan is the top T20I team right now and has been performing brilliantly in the recent matches. This makes Pakistani players the most watched players in the league,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune.

Nazir also hoped for the fast bowlers to put up a good show in the tournament. In the previous season, Sohail Tanvir finished as the highest wicket-taker bagging 17 scalps in 12 matches.

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