A major dispute has erupted in English cricket after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) introduced a new policy regarding No-Objection Certificates (NOCs), leading to backlash from top T20 freelancers. The new guidelines, aimed at protecting the integrity of domestic competitions, particularly the T20 Blast and The Hundred, have blindsided several players, sparking calls for an emergency meeting to discuss their next steps.

The policy, approved by the ECB’s board on Wednesday, restricts players without national contracts—who primarily play T20 cricket for their counties—from participating in overseas leagues that overlap with the ECB’s competitions. This includes popular tournaments such as the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Major League Cricket (MLC), and the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The ECB’s intention is to prevent a drain of talent from English domestic cricket, which has seen a surge in international franchise leagues.

Leading T20 freelancers, including players like Jason Roy and Alex Hales, who opted for leagues like MLC and LPL over the T20 Blast in 2024, are especially affected. The policy is also seen as a safeguard for The Hundred, which is undergoing a sales process with anticipated wage increases for the 2026 season. With the ECB planning to sell stakes in the tournament’s teams to private investors, some players fear that the policy is designed to ensure the competition’s success by limiting external player commitments during its window.

The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has expressed frustration over the lack of consultation before the policy’s implementation, and players have voiced strong concerns over how the new rules will be enforced. Daryl Mitchell, PCA’s interim chief executive, confirmed that the association’s legal team is reviewing potential challenges, including the possibility of a restraint-of-trade issue. “Players have strongly expressed their concerns,” Mitchell said, adding that the inconsistency in how players would be treated under the new rules was a major point of contention.

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The new policy also aims to mitigate potential integrity risks, as the ECB will not approve NOCs for overseas leagues that could jeopardize the sport’s credibility, particularly in light of past concerns over the packed franchise calendar and players’ motivations when they are financially incentivized to exit early from tournaments.

One of the most significant changes involves players with standard county contracts, who will not be granted NOCs for the PSL due to its overlap with the County Championship season. However, the IPL will retain its status as an exception, with English players allowed to participate, provided they are not centrally contracted.

The ECB has stressed that the policy is designed to strike a balance between supporting players’ global opportunities while safeguarding the integrity of English domestic competitions. “There has never been a better time to be a cricket player,” said ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould. “But we need to protect the integrity of our sport.”

In response, some players are considering renegotiating their county contracts to include more flexible, pay-as-you-play red-ball components, a move that could significantly alter the structure of county cricket contracts.

As the dispute continues, players are anxiously awaiting further details on the policy’s implications and how it will affect their career choices in the coming months. An emergency meeting is scheduled for next week, where players and representatives from the PCA will seek a resolution to the growing tensions.

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