PCB okays Afridi for Sri Lanka league

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday said it had given clearance to former captain Shahid Afridi to take part in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League starting later this month.
A PCB official confirmed that they had given permission for the Sri Lankan authorities to sign on around 10 Pakistani players for the league and that list included Afridi.
“We gave these permissions and clearance for the players including Afridi sometime back. But now when he individually also applies for a no-objection certificate or the Sri Lankan organizers reconfirm his availability we see no problem in giving him clearance,” the official said.
Afridi, who is presently playing for Hampshire in the English domestic T20 event, was entangled in a feud with the PCB last month after the Board revoked his NOC to play for Hampshire.
The Board issued a fresh NOC after the all-rounder appeared before a PCB disciplinary committee and accepted a fine of 4.5 million rupees for breaching the code of conduct and also withdrew a petition he had filed at Sindh High Court against the Board. The Board official said that contrary to popular belief that after withdrawal of 12 Indian players from the SLPL more Pakistani players would get an opportunity to play in the event, he expected around a dozen players from Pakistan to feature in the league.
“So far we have given around 10 clearances and they are some seven pending but they are issues over paper work and availability and we don’t think more than 12 players will play in the league,” he said.
He also made it clear that even if some players and their agents independently contacted the organisers, they would still have to get NOCs from the Board.
Pakistani players have started using their contacts to secure contracts in the league after the Indian Board revoked permission given to 12 of its players to take part in the league. The PCB official said at the moment he did not see any threat to the SLPL even though the Sri Lankan government had dissolved the interim committee.
“As far as we know the league is on as a group of people are organizing it and there is support in the government for the league. As it is the Somerset company is responsible for organizing the event and looking after foreign signings for different teams,” he said.