Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) alleged fickle behavior might cost its players an opportunity to play in the Major League Cricket (MLC) T20 league in the USA. This comes after reports stated that the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB allegedly demanded a hefty amount from MLC teams per Pakistani player.
This includes what some franchise owners have called "extortion"—a last-minute demand for a substantial sum of money in order to provide the No-objection Certificates (NOCs) to its players.
As per PakPassion.net, which quoted a source close to a MLC team owner, the PCB demanded an unannounced fee of $25,000 (approx INR Rs. 24 lakh) per player for the NOC. The No-objection Certificate is an ICC-mandated document that allows a player to participate in a franchise T20 competition.
Pacer Haris Rauf is the only Pakistani player in the MLC this year and is representing the San Francisco Unicorns, who agreed to the fee.
Notably, paying a player's home board is a widespread custom worldwide. For each international player signed in the IPL, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pays the home board a fee equal to 10–20% of the auction deal.
The MLC, which is a lot shorter and weaker league in comparison, does not have such a restriction, according to the article.
It claimed that the PCB was the "only" board requesting this kind of payment. Furthermore, the problem goes beyond the sum itself; according to the report, the PCB only notifies teams when replacing players is no longer a possibility and does not disclose the charges during recruitment.
According to the above-mentioned report, MLC owners have brought up the issue with Mohsin Naqvi, the powerful chairman of the PCB and a Pakistani minister.
They claim that the practice amounts to "extortion" because there is no publicly published guideline defining the price structure. However, PCB informed the owners that it was "their right to ask for this money."
According to the report, franchises receive no guarantee even after paying the cost because the PCB has the right to withdraw a NOC and demand a new payment if another clearance is required.
(PakPassion.net report)
