The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reached an agreement with the organisers of the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 over the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Pakistani cricketers, clearing a major hurdle ahead of the tournament.
The development comes just days before the competition begins on November 7, after uncertainty over the participation of several Pakistan players who had been selected by different franchises. The agreement is understood to include compensation and facilities worth up to USD 200,000 for the PCB from the tournament organisers.
Earlier, several prominent Pakistan cricketers, including Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir, were awaiting clearance from the board. Their participation had come under threat as franchises faced the possibility of finding replacements if the required NOCs were not issued before the tournament.
According to reports, the PCB had sought financial compensation from the league, with an earlier reported demand of USD 10,000 for each NOC. The matter was subsequently discussed with the organisers after franchises and players approached the board to resolve the situation.
The agreement has now improved the prospects of Pakistani players featuring in the 10th edition of the competition, which will run from November 7 to 20 in the United Arab Emirates.
A total of 16 Pakistani cricketers were selected during the players’ draft held on September 30. Fakhar Zaman was signed directly by United Tigers, while several other players were distributed among the participating franchises.
Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Khushdil Shah, Azam Khan, Khawaja Nafay and Mohammad Wasim Jr were picked by UAE Bulls. United Tigers also selected Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Sufiyan Muqeem and Abbas Afridi.
Naseem Shah will represent Royal Desert Champions, while Salman Irshad was selected by Arabian Aces. Emirates Eagles secured the services of Hasan Nawaz, Akif Javed and Ali Raza.
The upcoming edition will feature six teams: UAE Bulls, Yas Lions, Royal Desert Champions, Emirates Eagles, United Tigers and Arabian Aces. It will also mark the tournament’s first edition following its ownership change.
The resolution is a significant development for the participating franchises, which had limited time to finalise their squads before the competition. Pakistani players are expected to add considerable experience and firepower to the tournament, provided the required clearances are completed.
