England T20 cricketers furious over ECB for revised NOC policy without prior notice

A storm has erupted in England cricket as T20 cricketers voice their anger over the ECB’s revised No-Objection Certificate (NOC) policy. The policy, introduced to “protect the integrity of the sport,” has left players without national contracts—relying on franchise leagues for income—feeling blindsided. These players, including some of England’s top white-ball talents, have called for an emergency meeting next week to address the changes.

The policy, passed by the ECB board, bars players from overseas leagues that clash with home tournaments like the T20 Blast and The Hundred. The players are afraid it will narrow their scope when some of the leagues, like the Pakistan Super League, plan to shift to the times overlapping England’s County Championship. The ECB says it is necessary to prevent a talent drain from domestic competitions, but players and their representatives are raising serious concerns.

PCA interim minister warns of legal action as England T20 cricketers fumed over revised NOC policy

Daryl Mitchell, interim chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), said the body was seeking a legal review of the policy. He added that players were frustrated because there had been no consultation ahead of the announcement. Players have also signaled inconsistencies in how the policy could be applied, with potential unequal treatment.

The matter has become the most discussed topic amongst the T20 cricketers, first in private groups and then with their legal representatives. A legal challenge is a consideration, based on restraint of trade. Others may even review their contracts, moving away from all-format county contracts to white-ball-only deals.

Whereas the IPL will have no impact from the changes, the MLC and LPL, for instance, are affected by it. Quite notably, this will hit at England’s big guns, including Jason Roy and Alex Hales, who missed chunks of the 2024 Blast to play in that league.

ECB Chief Richard Gould called it a policy that will achieve a balance between player opportunity, the integrity of the domestic competitions, and Workload. However, many players feel that these changes protect The Hundred, with a sale process ongoing, from themselves.