A late demand from the Pakistan Cricket Board requiring $25,000 per player for a No Objection Certificate has disrupted the Nepal Premier League. The sudden fee left several franchises without their Pakistani signings despite agreements being finalized before the tournament started.
According to the Kathmandu Post, four different franchises secured seven Pakistani cricketers for the third season of the league. Only Hussain Talat, who plays for the Karnali Yaks, managed to take part.
Teams had to scramble for last-minute replacements, and franchise officials described the situation as a major setback for the competition.
The Janakpur Bolts faced trouble when Iftikhar Ahmed and Hunain Shah could not play even though they traveled to Kathmandu. Both cricketers sat on the bench with the team during a Tuesday match against the Karnali Yaks.
"This is definitely a disappointment for us. In a broader context, it is a big blow for overall Nepali cricket," Janakpur Bolts CEO Niroj Khatiwada told the publication.
Khatiwada stated that neither cricketer will play for the team this season. Both will stay in Nepal briefly to take part in training sessions and mentor younger players.
The team will pay for their travel and lodging costs but will not provide match fees because their contracts depended on appearances.
Additional franchises suffered disruptions. The Karnali Yaks obtained clearance for Hussain Talat but had to send Sahibzada Farhan home, while the Sudurpaschim Royals missed out on Haider Ali.
The Chitwan Rhinos lost Usama Mir and Hassan Ali because of the clearance problem. Usama Mir traveled to Kathmandu prior to being ruled out, which prompted the team to sign Tom Taylor and Daniel Richard Mousley as substitutes.
Kathmandu Gorkhas operations head Shrawan Bahadur Singh mentioned that his team signed another Pakistani player but kept the agreement quiet due to the unclear clearance rules.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has maintained a clearance policy since 2020, but public guidelines do not list a $25,000 payment fee for playing in foreign leagues.
Even so, Pakistani cricketers continue receiving approval for overseas events. Board records indicate about 40 players secured clearances for various tournaments in 2026 up to August 8.
A similar disagreement impacted Major League Cricket in the United States during 2023 and 2026, when a reported $25,000 demand caused confusion over player participation.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar spoke during opening day coverage and expressed optimism that the issue would get resolved before the following season.
"I am sure Pakistan will look into this matter and I think they will allow players for the next year. Hopefully," Akhtar said.
Officials from the Cricket Association of Nepal stated that individual franchises must handle negotiations with the Pakistan Cricket Board and secure their own clearances.
The conflict led NPL teams to rethink hiring Pakistani players in the future. Officials also suggested adopting a foreign player draft method to manage expenses and simplify financial budgeting.
