PCB's ₹24 lakh NOC fee sparks MLC 2026 row over Pakistan stars

Major League Cricket (MLC) franchises have reportedly become reluctant to sign Pakistani cricketers ahead of the 2026 season. However, the reason is not political, unlike the Indian Premier League (IPL). Instead, reports claim that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced a new No Objection Certificate (NOC) fee, making it more expensive for franchises to recruit Pakistani players.

According to multiple reports, the PCB is asking overseas franchise leagues to pay $25,000 (approximately ₹24 lakh) for every Pakistani player they sign. The reported policy has affected recruitment plans in Major League Cricket, with several franchises deciding against pursuing Pakistani players because of the additional financial burden.

According to several media reports, citing a source close to an MLC franchise owner, the PCB has introduced this fee without any prior announcement. The NOC is a mandatory document required under ICC regulations for players to participate in overseas franchise leagues. The reported move has sparked fresh concerns and created uncertainty over the future participation of Pakistani cricketers in MLC 2026.

MLC franchises call it 'extortion' over last-minute $25,000-per-player NOC charges

According to several media reports, Major League Cricket (MLC) franchises have raised concerns over the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) reported demand for a $25,000 (approximately ₹24 lakh) No Objection Certificate (NOC) fee for every Pakistani player. Some franchise owners have even described the move as "extortion" because of the unexpected additional cost.

Reports, citing sources close to MLC team owners, claim that the PCB informed franchises about the fee only a few days before the tournament began. Since an NOC is a mandatory ICC document required for players to participate in overseas franchise leagues, teams had little choice but to deal with the last-minute demand.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly defended the decision, saying the board has the right to charge a fee for issuing NOCs to players taking part in overseas leagues. However, the PCB has not released an official public statement explaining the reported policy or how it will be implemented.

Haris Rauf now Pakistan's lone MLC 2026 player as franchises refuse to sign PCB stars

The reported NOC policy has left Haris Rauf as the only Pakistani cricketer playing in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026. His franchise, the San Francisco Unicorns, reportedly agreed to pay the PCB's ₹24 lakh (US$25,000) NOC fee to secure his participation in the tournament.

According to multiple reports, several other MLC franchises decided not to sign Pakistani players after learning about the additional NOC charge. Team owners reportedly felt that the unexpected fee would put extra pressure on their budgets and increase the overall cost of signing players.

As a result, Haris Rauf is the lone Pakistan representative in this year's MLC season. The reported policy has raised fresh concerns about the future participation of PCB-contracted players in overseas franchise leagues, especially if similar fees continue to be imposed.

Mohsin Naqvi defends the fee as PCB's 'right' amid growing backlash

According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has defended its reported decision to charge a US$25,000 (around ₹24 lakh) No Objection Certificate (NOC) fee for players taking part in Major League Cricket (MLC). While some cricket boards receive compensation when their players participate in franchise leagues, reports claim that the PCB is the only board asking for such a fee in MLC, where no official payment policy exists.

Reports also claim that the issue is not just about the amount but also the timing of the demand. Several MLC franchise owners have alleged that they were informed about the fee only after player recruitment was almost complete, leaving them with little room to change their plans. They reportedly described the practice as "extortion" because there is no publicly available policy explaining the fee structure.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly defended the decision, saying the board has the right to charge for issuing NOCs to players participating in overseas leagues. However, the PCB has not released an official public statement explaining the reported policy. Reports also claim that even after paying the fee, franchises receive no guarantee, as the PCB can reportedly revoke an NOC and require another payment if a fresh clearance becomes necessary.