'I was permitted to go, hence I went' - Usama Mir opens up on PCB's NOC denial for T20 Blast

Pakistani leg-spinner Usama Mir has opened up on his No Objection Certificate (NOC) denial from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in relation to his participation in the T20 Blast earlier this year. 

It is pertinent to mention that as per one of PCB's recent clause meant for centrally contracted players, a player is permitted to participate in a maximum of two T20 leagues in addition to the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Given that the contract for the season spanned from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and Mir had already participated in the 2023 T20 Blast in August and the Big Bash League in December, ideally he was no longer eligibale to play in any T20 league as per the PCB ruling.

However, his inclusion in the T20I squad for the New Zealand series meant he had left the BBL only after five matches and not the full season, which led him to believe he could still participate in this season's T20 Blast that commenced on May 30, 2024.

Mir responded to the rumors propagated by the media, stating that he requested for the NOC to play the T20 Blast once he was dropped from Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad.

"In the media, there were reports that Usama went by himself. If I had to, I have my own house in Sheffield and my car. Why would I then have gone to the house that the County gave me or used their facilities? Obviously, I was permitted to go, hence I went. I was dropped from the T20 World Cup squad following which I requested for the NOC," Mir was quoted as saying by the Wisden.

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He subsequently revealed that the selectors had personally informed him that he could proceed with traveling to England, assuring him that he would be provided with the NOC for his participation in the T20 Blast.

"I got a call from the selectors, including Wahab Riaz, Abdur Razzaq, and Mohammad Yousuf and they told me to go to England. Wahab bhai asked the selectors if they had an objection to Usama playing [in the T20 Blast] and they all said no. They told me I would get the NOC the next day and I could go [to England], and accordingly, I booked my tickets and went." mentioned Mir.

I tried my best and argued that my relation with the County would be ruined: Usama Mir

Mir recounted how the situation deteriorated, detailing his experience of commencing training in the UK while persistently requesting the NOC from the PCB, which was denied at the last moment despite the oral promise made to him earlier. Ultimately, his plea proved fruitless as the NOC was denied, preventing him from joining Worcestershire.

"I started my practice and kept asking about the NOC and on the last day of submissions, I was told my NOC was declined. When I asked why, they said I had already taken two NOCs. I tried my best and argued that my relation with the County would be ruined. A month was left for the new season to begin, so I asked if they would consider this as the NOC for the upcoming season. I didn’t come on my own here, but it was canceled," added Mir.

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Mir had to be replaced by West Indian leg-spinner, Hayden Walsh, for the 2024 edition, which ended quite poorly for Worcestershire, who finished at eighth spot in the nine-team North Group with only four wins in 14 games.