Pakistan spinner Usama Mir has revealed the incidents that led to the Pakistan Cricket Board denying him a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to play in the T20 Blast earlier this year despite initial assurance.
What had transpired?
Mir, a centrally contracted Pakistani cricketer, signed a deal with Worcestershire Rapids to play in the T20 Blast last year. He was poised to rejoin the county this season after being excluded from Pakistan's T20 World Cup team. However, in May, despite initial assurances from the PCB that he would be granted an NOC a few days before the tournament, his request was denied.
According to the latest clause in the PCB’s central contracts, each player is allowed to play in two franchise T20 leagues excluding the Pakistan Super League per season. This season’s contract runs from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, a period in which Mir already took part in the T20 Blast in August 2023 and the Big Bash League in December.
Mir was pulled out after just five games in the BBL after being selected for the T20I series against New Zealand. Mir, whose stint in the BBL was curtailed, believed that he would be eligible to play in the Blast this year, which began on 30 May.
The PCB, though, did not budge and denied him the NOC, much to Mir’s disappointment, who had already flown to England after being reassured that he would be given an all-clearance.
Mir: I was permitted to go, hence I went
In a video with journalist Saj Sadiq, Mir says: “I was dropped from the T20 World Cup squad following which I requested for the NOC. I got a call from the selectors, including Wahab Riaz, Abdur Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf and they told me to go to England. Wahab bhai asked the selectors if they had an objection to Usama playing [in the T20 Blast] and they all said no. They told me I would get the NOC the next day and I could go [to England], and accordingly, I booked my tickets and went.
Usama Mir's final two overs against Lahore Qalandars: 4 W 1 W W 1 6 W 1 1 . W
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 27, 2024
A dramatic collapse from the Qalandars saw them bowled out for 154 having been 131-5.#PSL2024 pic.twitter.com/qBwQ3SY7mN
“In the media, there were reports that Usama went by himself - If I had to, I have my own house in Sheffield and my car. Why would I then have gone to the house that the county gave me or used their facilities? Obviously, I was permitted to go, hence I went.”
Mir adds: “I started my practice and kept asking about the NOC and on the last day of submissions, I was told my NOC was declined. When I asked why, they said I had already taken two NOCs.
"I tried my best and argued that my relation with the county would be ruined. A month was left for the new season to begin, so I asked if they would consider this as the NOC for the upcoming season. I didn’t come on my own here, but it was cancelled.”
Mir is currently playing for Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
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