Will English players be able to play in the PSL despite being drafted? James Vince, Tom Curran, and Sam Billings remain uncertain, as the PSL has put them at odds with the ECB. According to ESPNcricinfo, following the PSL draft, English players have sought clear directives from the ECB regarding their participation.
The issue began in November last year when the ECB introduced a new NOC (No Objection Certificate) policy. The board announced that during England’s domestic season, players would not be granted NOCs to participate in overseas leagues, except for the IPL. This rule, if strictly enforced, would significantly impact all foreign leagues except the IPL.
This year, the PSL is scheduled to run from April to May, coinciding with the County Championship in England. This overlap raises questions about how players can balance both commitments.
There’s still a glimmer of hope for some players. Facing backlash from players, the ECB has softened its stance. Those without red-ball contracts with county teams are expected to receive NOCs, allowing them to play in the PSL. This group includes Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, and David Willey, as they do not have multi-format contracts with their county sides.
However, players like James Vince (Hampshire) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Somerset), who are under all-format contracts with their counties, face a tougher challenge. The PSL is set to run from April 8 to May 19, during which these players would miss six or seven rounds of the County Championship. According to Wisden, under the new ECB policy, players with all-format contracts cannot return mid-season if they miss matches at the start. This has reportedly led Vince to renegotiate his Hampshire contract to a white-ball-only deal.
For those centrally contracted with the ECB, the situation is even stricter. Players like Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid, along with four others, have already withdrawn from the PSL draft due to the impossibility of obtaining NOCs from the board.
