After losing three matches to India in the Asia Cup 2025, Pakistani cricketers are facing serious consequences. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to suspend all No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players seeking to participate in overseas T20 leagues. NOCs are official permissions that allow players to join tournaments abroad. Without them, players cannot participate in leagues like SA20, ILT20, and the Big Bash League (BBL).

The PCB has not clearly explained why it has suspended the NOCs. However, the decision has been communicated to the players. This sudden move puts some of Pakistan’s top cricketers in a difficult position. Players who were planning to play in overseas leagues could lose a lot of money if they are not allowed to go.

The notice about the suspension was issued by PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmad Syed on September 29. It affects top players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Faheem Ashraf. These players were expected to feature in big tournaments like the BBL and ILT20. The suspension follows Pakistan’s narrow loss to India in the Asia Cup final, suggesting that the board wants to ensure better performance from its national team.

According to reports, the PCB may introduce a performance-based system for NOCs. This means that players might get permission to play abroad depending on how well they perform in national and domestic matches. However, the exact criteria for this system have not been made public.

Pakistan’s main domestic first-class competition is also about to start in October, after being delayed from September 22. It is likely that the PCB wants players to focus on domestic tournaments and improve their form before allowing them to play overseas.

The board has not shared details on how long the NOC suspension will last, whether any exceptions will be made, or when players might get permission to play abroad again. For now, players must wait for further instructions, and their participation in lucrative foreign leagues remains uncertain.