Pakistan cricketers set to miss full BPL 2025/26 season due to national duties
The BPL, scheduled from December 26 to January 23, clashes with Pakistan’s bilateral assignments during the final phase of their T20 World Cup preparations.
2 Min Read
Major Pakistani cricketers are unlikely to be available for the full season of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the country’s lone franchise-based T20 tournament, as they will be occupied with national commitments. Several franchise officials confirmed the development, adding that they will now have to seek alternative options.
The BPL, scheduled from December 26 to January 23, clashes with Pakistan’s bilateral assignments during the final phase of their T20 World Cup preparations. Pakistan are set to play a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka on January 7, 9, and 11 in Dambulla, while the team is also expected to hold a preparatory camp in Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup, with their tournament fixtures scheduled there as well.
"We are aware that they (Pakistani cricketers) are not available for the whole season as they have a series against Sri Lanka in the middle of January, while they are slated to take on Australia at the end of January," said an official working closely with the franchises as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Mohammad Naim emerges as top pick in BPL auction
Pakistan are also scheduled to tour Australia for a three-match T20I series in the final week of January. Following that assignment, the team is expected to begin preparations for their departure to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India from February 7 to March 8.
Several leading Pakistani players had initially signed with various BPL franchises, including opener Saim Ayub, now a regular in Pakistan’s T20I top order and recently ranked the No. 1 T20 all-rounder, along with Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, and others.
"It is not a fact that we are not giving an NOC (No Objection Certificate) this year. The players who have applied for the NOC, we are currently processing it. We are seeing who can be given an NOC and who cannot be given an NOC," a PCB official said when asked about the development.
"However, we must also remember that whenever there is national duty, that is our priority. So if someone is on national duty, in that case he will not be having the NOC and this is followed everywhere in the world," he added.
Saim Ayub regains No.1 spot in ICC rankings for all-rounders
Many believe there is still a possibility for some Pakistani players to feature in the BPL for a few matches, either during the gap before the Sri Lanka series or in the window between the Sri Lanka and Australia series. Others feel that players who are not currently in the immediate selection pool for the upcoming T20 World Cup may still have opportunities to participate in the tournament.
Get every cricket updates! Follow Us:
Download Our App