“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” President John F. Kennedy famously said in his 1961 inaugural address after his election. It is hard to judge the level of patriotism in an individual. It can only be gauged through your actions and plans. It could be a spin-off of what you are doing in your life but no one can doubt any other person’s integrity, competence and patriotism. The extent of love for the country can vary from person to person.
Sports is one field where those involved take pride in representing their country. The emblem of your country on your kit is a distinguished mark. It is for this emblem, the name of the country, the national jersey and the national cap that sportsmen crave. There is no alternative for being selected for your country at the international level.
Just like other sportsmen, the biggest and long-life aim for cricketers is also the same – to represent their country in international matches. When they perform at the international stage, they exhibit their love for the country by kissing the emblem. In Pakistan’s case the crescent and the star are the pride of our players which they kiss on when they achieve success.
With the advent of T20 cricket and the mushrooming of money-spinning leagues, ready to attract international players for large sums of money, putting players in a quagmire on who to select: country or private league. In fact, leagues around the world have bifurcated the cricket calendar, one in which international cricket is played with leagues shoehorned in between. While Indian players – not allowed to feature in any league other than India’s own lucrative IPL – are secured and have no attraction for them. For players from other countries, it is tough to let go of big offers.
That is where players from other countries like the West Indies, England, New Zealand and Australia started to let go of central contracts offered by the boards. They become free agents and are available for national duties, if selected. The West Indian players Kieron Pollard, Dwyane Bravo et.al were the bellwether in this regard. They along with some other West Indian players became globetrotters and played leagues wherever they were offered. Trent Boult followed suit from New Zealand and after the Twenty20 World Cup Kane Williamson did the same. Jason Roy left England contract for leagues. These players have every right to earn money if the other event is not clashing with national assignments.
Pakistan Players Need NOC For Leagues
Specifically, Pakistan players are in a tight corner. The absence of a Players’ Association to negotiate for them, job security and other perks leave them seeking good league contracts. If a player abandons a central contract, he would face criticism from the Board and the media. His patriotism is questioned. Since an NOC is a prerequisite to feature in a league that player has to run from post to pillar to acquire that. Pakistan Cricket Board’s policy also differs from player to player. In some cases, it is justified as they want a certain player to manage his workload. In other cases, it gives a nod without much fuss.
Leg-spinner Shadab Khan was way behind his standards in the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup last year as well as in the Twenty20 World Cup this year. But as soon as the allrounder returned from the USA his NOC for Lanka Premier League was ready and he jet off to the Island. The reason might be that there was no national assignment nor was there any first-class event. But fast bowler Naseem Shah’s NOC was declined, depriving him of a 1.25 million pound bounty from The Hundred. It may be a case of workload management but Naseem could have gained good experience from the stint. Shaheen Shah, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were also denied NOCs for the Global T20 League, hitting their pockets hard.
PCB Wants Workload Management
The other factor on giving NOCs or decline them is PCB’s relations with other Boards. It is a reciprocal thing, if you give your players then we will give your players for your league. PCB has been recalling their players mid-way through the Caribbean Premier League which has not gone well with the West Indian Board. With Nasim not allowed to play in the England Board’s event there must be some resentment. England may also now allow its current players for the Pakistan Premier League.
The issue needs special attention. The international cricket is impeded by Leagues around the world. PCB will have to devise a clear-cut policy on this or else Pakistan players will also take the same route: abandoning central contract and go for lucrative leagues. Admittedly, players also need to put the country before a league. They are identified by their nationality, not by a money-spinning league.
