Ben Stokes and Harry Brook might feature in PSL 2026 [Source: X]In a major development, the Pakistan Super League could witness the participation of England stars in its 2026 edition, according to Hyderabad team general manager Faisal Mirza. He revealed that the England and Wales Cricket Board has agreed to issue no-objection certificates to its players, provided they are willing to feature in the PSL. Amid several historic changes, including the addition of two new teams, Hyderabad and Sialkot, and the introduction of a player auction system in place of the traditional draft, the PSL is also set to welcome English players if they show interest in joining the league. England set to give freehand to players for PSL 2026However, the ECB has traditionally maintained a strict policy regarding NOCs to protect the integrity and competitiveness of its domestic competitions such as the County Championship, the Vitality Blast, and The Hundred. One of the main reasons for this strict stance is to avoid clashes with England’s international schedule. The ECB aims to ensure that players remain available throughout the domestic season, which runs from April to September, as many overseas T20 leagues like the Caribbean Premier League and Major League Cricket overlap with the English summer. Maintaining consistent team line-ups across domestic competitions is another priority, something that becomes difficult when players leave mid-season to participate in overseas leagues. This cautious approach has also limited England players’ participation in the Indian Premier League, with several instances of players being bought at auctions but withdrawing before the tournament begins. Did England players participate in PSL before?For context, several England players had previously featured in the PSL before the ECB enforced stricter NOC regulations for leagues clashing with the English domestic season. Players such as Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, David Willey, James Vince, and Dawid Malan played in the tournament prior to the 2024 edition, after which the ECB’s revised policy made it significantly harder for English players to participate in the PSL. Can England players participate in PSL 2026?The PSL 2026 season is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3. Importantly, England players have no international commitments during this window. Following the T20 World Cup 2026, England’s next national assignment is the home series against New Zealand in June. With national duties not posing an obstacle, there is a genuine possibility that English stars such as Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, or Alex Hales could take part in the tournament. If the ECB’s NOC policy holds firm, several English players are expected to enter the PSL 2026 auction, potentially paving the way for their participation in the league. PSL 2026 to see mega reforms! Alongside the massive reforms, the PSL has increased the salary purse to USD 1.6 million per franchise, which could further attract England cricketers to the tournament.In addition, Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium has been added as a new host venue, joining Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan. Franchises will also operate under a revised player retention rule, allowing them to retain a maximum of four players, down from eight in the previous season.
