The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested a fee of $25,000 per player to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the third season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).
Four franchises signed seven Pakistani cricketers for the tournament, but several players were unable to participate due to the clearance costs.
Niroj Khatiwada, a representative of the league, said, "This is definitely a disappointment for us. In a broader context, it is a big blow for overall Nepali cricket." The Sudurpaschim Royals were unable to field Haider Ali, while the Chitwan Rhinos lost both Usama Mir and Hassan Ali because of the NOC issue.
Chitwan Rhinos recruited Tom Taylor and Daniel Richard Mousley to replace the missing Pakistani players. Karnali Yaks obtained clearance for Hussain Talat but were forced to send back Sahibzada Farhan. Shrawan Bahadur Singh stated that the Kathmandu Gorkhas signed another Pakistani player but withheld the announcement due to uncertainty regarding the NOC requirements.
The PCB has maintained an NOC policy since 2020, and records show approximately 40 players received certificates for various leagues as of 8 August 2026. A dispute regarding the reported $25,000 demand has previously affected the Major League Cricket (MLC) in 2023 and 2026.
Shoaib Akhtar said, "I am sure Pakistan will look into this matter and I think they will allow players for the next year. Hopefully." Officials from the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) stated that franchises are responsible for negotiating with the PCB and completing all necessary clearance procedures.
Franchise officials have requested a foreign-player draft system to simplify financial planning and control recruitment costs.
