PCB Threatens 2-Year Ban Over Unsanctioned Asian Legends League

LAHORE: A strong notice has been sent out by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to the former players of Pakistan cricket team for their involvement in the ongoing 20th Asian Legends League in Zambia, promising strict disciplinary actions against any participant who would take part in the league without the right permission. The PCB has warned players that their involvement in the Asian Legends League will have dire consequences.

In light of the PCB's information, the International Cricket Council (ICC) views the Asian Legends League as an unapproved cricket event in accordance with the ICC regulations on the sanctioning of events and player release. It is also worth noting that the said competition has not been sanctioned by the Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU), which means that it is an unapproved cricket event at both the national and international levels.

PCB Warns Players: What Penalties Players Could Face

The statement mentioned the punishments for those who were participating in the unapproved tournament without the necessary approvals from the PCB. The punishment for the violation of the rule is the suspension of two years from any PCB No Objection Certificate (NOC) application. In order to take part in any cricket matches in the foreign countries, one needs the NOC and the two-year suspension will prevent such players from doing so.

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The ban by NOC apart, PCB has extended the ban even to the prospects of professional engagement within Pakistan’s domestic system of cricket. Those players who come under the purview of such a ban will no longer be able to take up any cricket-related, coaching, consultancy, mentoring or any other job offered by Pakistan Cricket Board and the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) for two years. The ban will now extend much beyond playing careers and cover all those jobs that former players do after retirement from professional cricket.

Statement of the PCB reaffirmed the policy of the ICC that states all the foreign players must have the No Objection Certificate issued by their home boards prior to their involvement in any international cricket tournament. Such policy is followed in order to keep track of the participation of the players in international leagues and to check the standard of the event first.

In addition to that, the rules impose a direct responsibility on the boards of members, including the PCB, to take necessary actions against any player who takes part in a non-sanctioned game. It is noted in the statement that in case of not adhering to this obligation, there may be actions taken against the concerned member board, increasing pressure on the PCB to strictly adhere to these rules.

Now PCB Warns Players of the Asian Legends League has been officially issued, former Pakistan cricket players who are taking part in the tournament have a tough decision to make, between choosing to continue their involvement and having to bear the burden of a severe two-year ban from both international league games and domestic cricketing.