PCB imposes two-year sanctions on former cricketers for unsanctioned Zambia league

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a two-year disciplinary ban for more than a dozen former Pakistan cricketers who participated in the Asian Legends League, an unsanctioned T20 tournament held in Lusaka, Zambia. The board stated that players who competed without obtaining prior No Objection Certificates (NOCs) will be ineligible for NOCs for approved overseas leagues and barred from any cricketing, coaching, consultancy, or mentoring assignments with the PCB and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the same period.

The tournament was abruptly halted after the Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU) clarified that the competition lacked official endorsement from the country’s governing body. The ZCU explicitly stated that the event was not sanctioned, approved, or endorsed, leading to the immediate suspension of play. The PCB subsequently said it had taken “serious notice” of the participation of its former players and warned that those who took part without the necessary approvals would face disciplinary action.

According to ESPNcricinfo, several former Pakistan cricketers, including Imran Nazir, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Hasan Raza, Yasir Butt and Rana Naeem Anwar, were linked with the tournament. While players such as Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Tanvir and Umar Akmal did not play after learning approvals had not been granted, the media outlet verified that some, though not all, of the players listed in the Pakistan Panthers squad actually participated in matches.

The PCB emphasised its commitment to upholding International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations and safeguarding the integrity and governance of the game. The board’s disciplinary measures include a two-year ban from the issuance of any PCB NOC for participation in approved overseas cricket leagues or events, as well as ineligibility for any assignments with the PCB and the PSL for the same duration.

Reports indicate that some participating players and support staff encountered significant difficulties regarding payments and accommodation during the tournament, with some reportedly leaving unpaid. The incident highlights broader tensions regarding player participation in unauthorised global franchise leagues and the regulatory oversight exercised by national cricket boards, occurring as the ICC intensifies its scrutiny on such activities.

The exact number of players who participated in matches is not definitively confirmed, though ESPNcricinfo verified that “some, though not all” of the players listed in the Pakistan Panthers squad took part. The specific financial details of the payment disputes and accommodation issues faced by players and support staff are not fully detailed in the available reports. The final list of sanctioned individuals and the precise duration of any bans beyond the stated two-year window remain subject to the PCB’s disciplinary process.