PSL 2022: Cricket South Africa denies issuing NOC to centrally contracted players

Cricket South Africa has denied issuing NOCs to centrally contracted players for the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The board wants the players to concentrate on the upcoming international tours and domestic competitions. South Africa is bound to play an away tour against New Zealand in February and a home tour against Bangladesh in March.

The PSL is scheduled to start from January 27 with the opening game between Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans at the National Stadium, Karachi and the final will be played on February 27 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Cricket South Africa’s Director of Cricket Grame Smith has confirmed that the centrally contracted South African players won’t be taking part in the PSL. He further added that the board will allow players to participate in international T20 leagues when the timings and fixtures do not clash with CSA’s own plans.

“It is true that contracted members of the proteas team had their NOCs for the Pakistan Super League refused due to the Proteas international schedule and domestic competitions which must always be prioritised,” Smith said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“With an away tour to New Zealand and a home tour against Bangladesh, our contracted players have to be available for their national team duties first and foremost. The same applies with regard to our domestic franchise tournaments which will be starting up soon.

“If and when opportunities in other international T20 tournaments arise and the timings and fixtures do not clash with our own, CSA will happily approve NOCs, as we have always done in the past.”

Three cricketers will play in PSL despite CSA not issuing NOC

The decision taken by CSA is applicable only to centrally contracted players and players who don’t have a contract will be able to take part in the competition. During the player draft, Imran Tahir, Rilee Rossouw, and Marchant de Lange, three South African players were picked by the PSL franchises. As none of them are not centrally contracted by the CSA, they would be taking part in the competition.

The replacement draft is yet to take place and Pakistan Cricket Board was hopeful that South African cricketers would be available for selection. But, now the board will have to make a few changes to those plans.