PCB Threatens Pakistan Stars With Possible Ban For Violating ICC Protocol

Jay Shah and Mohsin Naqvi the PCB chief [Source: AFP]

T20, Legends League and multiple franchise cricket have infested world cricket, and it seems like the Pakistan stars haven’t been spared as well. According to recent reports, several former Pakistan stars have taken part in an unsanctioned cricket league in Zambia, called the Asian Legends League. 

The International Cricket Council does not approve the African tournament, and now the Pakistani players participating in that particular league are facing the threat of being banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Pakistan to ban cricketers participating in Asian Legends League 2026

As reported by Cricinfo, there are at least 12 former Pakistan cricketers participating in the Zambia league, with names like Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, and Sharjeel Khan among them. 

The players are representing the team Pakistan Panthers, with teams like Indian Royals, Sri Lankan Lions, and Bangladesh Tigers also present in the group. While no other cricket board has released its official stance regarding playing in a non-sanctioned league, the PCB has strictly imposed measures on the players.

After Zambia put out a statement last week clarifying that the league was "not sanctioned, approved or endorsed by ZCU," the PCB added that “disciplinary measures will be taken on individuals found to have participated in the tournament.”

In its official press release, the board issued a threatening message for the participating players, banning them for two years on the No Objection Certificate provided by the body to players to participate in overseas franchise cricket.

The board also took strict measures to ensure that the players in the Asian Legends League will also be ineligible for any cricketing, coaching, consultancy, mentoring and other assignments for the nation or nation-related administration.

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PCB takes strict measures to comply with ICC rules and regulations

The PCB has also noted that the violation of the rule has already occurred, as they were late in distributing the disciplinary notice. The tournament started on July 30, comprising six teams and the Pakistan Panthers have already played two matches so far.

The ICC has been very strict about maintaining the integrity of international cricket; hence, it does not approve of every budding league cricket that pops up, mainly to ensure the sport remains fair and corrupt practices are controlled. 

The Pakistan Cricket Board too seemed to have complied with the ICC’s morals, as they hailed the apex cricket body’s disciplines and vowed to adhere to them.

"The PCB remains fully committed to upholding the ICC regulations and safeguarding the integrity and governance of the game. The board reiterates that all current and former cricketers seeking to participate in overseas cricket events requiring PCB clearance must obtain the necessary approvals and NOCs prior to participation," the PCB statement said. 

It has also been learnt that players like Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Tanvir, and Umar Akmal were also signed to the league and arrived in Lusaka to play the tournament; however, after learning the non-approval from the ICC, they refrained from participating.

Pakistan Panthers squad in Asian Legends League 2026: Sharjeel Khan, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Imran Nazir, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Shah, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Irfan, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, Hasan Raza, Yasir Bhatt, Rana Naeem Anwar

Pakistan Panthers squad in Asian Legends League 2026: Sharjeel Khan, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Imran Nazir, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Shah, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Irfan, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, Hasan Raza, Yasir Bhatt, Rana Naeem Anwar

Is it illegal to play in ICC non-sanctioned cricket leagues?

While playing in non-ICC leagues is not a criminal offence, it violates sporting regulations and can lead to long-term bans like the ones the PCB issued for the Asian Legends League players.

The ICC aims to protect the structural integrity, anti-corruption monitoring, and financial ecosystem of global cricket, and if private bodies run events outside this ecosystem, the sport might collapse due to match-fixing and other corrupt practices.

Player safety, protecting the global cricket calendar, workload management, financial sustainability and broadcasting rights are also taken into account as the ICC sanctions a tournament. Non-approval simply means the league have not ticked all the boxes in the requisites ICC intended to follow.

Participating in those leagues means the players are going against the ICC and their national cricket board as well. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s warning only seems fair. However, it is also worth noting that only the PCB has taken action against its players. Other nations like India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan or Bangladesh are yet to issue any official verdict on their former players.

For the unaware, the Indian Royals team is led by Shikhar Dhawan in the second season of the tournament and comprises names like Naman Ojha, Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh and Mohit Sharma.

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