The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has issued No Obligation Certificates (NOCs) to its players for the upcoming eleventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), though the clearances are subject to conditions prioritizing the national team’s upcoming home series against New Zealand.
Reports in the Bangladeshi media have confirmed that the players have been granted partial NOCs, with the board making it clear that participation in the lucrative T20 league should not come at the expense of the ODI leg of the New Zealand tour.
A BCB official emphasized the importance of the 50-over matches, saying the series was “of great importance for World Cup qualification”.
New Zealand will play three ODIs in Bangladesh on April 17, 20 and 23.
The tour will be followed by a three-match T20I series on April 27, April 29 and May 2. The Bangladesh team’s preparatory camp for this series is scheduled to begin on March 27.
Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Sharibul Islam, Nahid Rana, Tansit Hasan and Rishad Hossain have six Bangladeshi cricketers who have got contracts in PSL.
As a result of their NOCs, these players will miss the start of the national camp.
The BCB has set a deadline for the NOCs to ensure that the squad is at full strength for the ODIs. Fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been cleared in two different phases.
He is allowed to play in PSL from March 26 to April 12. After a brief return to national duty, he was exempted from the T20I series against New Zealand and will rejoin the PSL under a second NOC valid from April 24 to May 3.
“The board has issued partial NOCs to all the players,” a BCB official confirmed. “They have been advised to continue with the one-day series.”
The board has also defined specific NOC periods for other players. Danzid Hasan, Sharibul Islam, Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain have been issued NOCs valid only till April 12, ensuring their return to ODIs starting on April 17.
Batter Parvez Hossain Emon has received long-term clearance, his NOC valid till April 21.
The upcoming edition of the marquee event will run for 39 days and feature an expanded line-up of eight teams.
Along with the six original franchises, the tournament will welcome two new entrants: Bintis and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen.
A total of 44 matches will be played, with defending champions Lahore Qalandars scheduled to kick off against Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen on March 26.
Each team will play ten group-stage matches, with the top four advancing to the playoffs. The final is scheduled to be played on May 3 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with May 4 as a contingency date.
The fixture list includes six double-headers, three of which will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium. With Faisalabad and Peshawar hosting PSL matches for the first time, along with Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, matches will be held at six venues.
Gaddafi Stadium has played the most matches (15), followed by Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (11), Faisalabad Iqbal Stadium (seven), National Bank Stadium in Karachi (six) and Multan Cricket Stadium (four).
The only match between Peshawar Zalmi and Bindis is scheduled to take place on March 28 at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar.