Huge blow to Pakistan as ECB bars players from participating in PSL

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has introduced a significant policy change that will impact its players' participation in international franchise leagues. As reported by The Telegraph on November 28, the ECB has officially banned English players from competing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) during the domestic summer, a move that extends to all global franchise leagues, excluding the Indian Premier League (IPL), that overlap with the English season.

Players of Karachi Kings celebrate after winning the Pakistan Super League title.(Getty Images)

This decision is part of a broader strategy to safeguard the integrity of domestic competitions, particularly the Vitality Blast and The Hundred, by preventing players from participating in tournaments that clash with these events.

Under the new guidelines, players who are centrally contracted with the ECB will be prohibited from playing in any overseas leagues that run concurrently with England's domestic white-ball tournaments. This includes the PSL, which is scheduled to take place from mid-March to mid-April in 2025, overlapping with the start of the IPL, which is expected to begin on March 14.