The Pakistan Cricket Board has given permission to its players – who were originally not part of the player auction – to sign up with the Cricket South Africa’s SA20 league. The PCB decision comes after SA20 introduced wildcard entries, through which each franchise can bring in one extra player in the squad.
It is reported that at least two Pakistan players, who do not have central contracts, are eyeing spots in the SA20 league. The PCB has allowed centrally contracted players to join up with the league as well, if they can secure deals.
“We are introducing a wildcard pick. Post the World Cup, we will allow teams to pick one other player. From a league perspective, we don’t get involved with selection. The teams go to the market and pick,”
Graeme Smith, commissioner of the SA20 league, told ESPNcricinfo.
The SA20 league held its first auction in September, with over 500 players registered to go under the hammer. Tristan Stubbs became the highest earner with 9.2 million Rand, with Sunrisers Eastern Cape winning the bidding war against Johannesburg Super Kings and MI Cape Town. The inaugural edition is set to kick off on January 10 next year.
Pakistan players weren’t part of the auction due to several reasons, one of them being the PCB feeling their players would get snubbed as all the teams in the league are owned by IPL franchises. Pakistan cricketers have been barred from the tournament since 2008 owing to poor political relations between the two countries.
Another reason for the PCB not allowing players to register for the auction was said to be the busy international schedule. However, the postponement of the West Indies tour of Pakistan has freed players to participate in T20 leagues. West Indies were originally scheduled to play three T20Is against Pakistan in January 2023.
The January-February window has several leagues overlapping with SA20, Big Bash League, ILT20 (in the UAE) and Bangladesh Premier League all on at the same time. The Pakistan Super League then kicks off in early February.
