Permission Granted for Pakistans Participation in Big Bash, Could BPL Be Next

Just a month ago, there was uncertainty over Pakistani cricketers’ participation in overseas T20 leagues. But the situation is changing rapidly. Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) earlier decision to suspend all No-Objection Certificates (NOCs), Pakistani stars are now set to feature in Australia’s popular T20 competition, the Big Bash League (BBL).

According to Geo News, the PCB has formally informed Cricket Australia (CA) and the concerned players about the decision. Players who had already received NOCs will be allowed to participate in the Big Bash as planned. However, it remains unclear whether this relaxation applies only to the BBL or extends to other overseas leagues as well. Geo News reports that exceptions have been made for players with valid contracts and prior approvals.

The upcoming Big Bash season will run from December 14 to January 25, overlapping with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) schedule. If PCB extends its permission to all leagues, Pakistani stars might also be seen in the BPL this season.

Meanwhile, several Pakistani players have shown interest in the ILT20 tournament in the UAE. Big names like Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, and Fakhar Zaman have already made it to the shortlist for the player auction.

Franchise interest in Pakistani players for this Big Bash season is notably high. Babar Azam has joined the Sydney Sixers, who have even launched a special fan zone named “Babaristan” in his honor. Shaheen Shah Afridi will represent Brisbane Heat, Mohammad Rizwan joins Melbourne Renegades, Haris Rauf will play for Melbourne Stars, and Shadab Khan is set to feature for Sydney Thunder.

Such enthusiasm underlines the continued global appeal of Pakistan’s cricketing stars — even as their international T20 league participation occasionally gets entangled in complex administrative decisions.