Twenty-nine cricketers from Pakistan have formally registered for the Afghanistan Premier League draft, even though the Pakistan Cricket Board is widely expected to decline their No-Objection Certificate requests. Several of these players, including Naseem Shah, Arafat Minhas, Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub, are currently part of Pakistan's white-ball plans.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has received these registrations ahead of the APL, which is scheduled to begin on December 27, 2026.

Fakhar Zaman is among those who have signed up, with the left-handed opener having recently been the top scorer in an ODI tri-series final held in Lahore. Ten Bangladesh players have also registered for the APL draft, with Shakib Al Hasan placed in the Diamond bracket and Rishad Hossain in the Platinum bracket. The Bangladesh contingent further includes Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim, among others. Across all nationalities, a total of 462 players have been shortlisted across the various APL draft categories.

Will the PCB grant NOCs for the Afghanistan Premier League?

The PCB's stance on NOCs for overseas franchise leagues has been a recurring point of friction over the past several months. During the Nepal Premier League in October 2026, the board withheld NOCs for seven Pakistan players, and a similar standoff had occurred over Major League Cricket in July 2026, with both disputes centred on a reported fee of USD 25,000 per player that the PCB sought from franchises. Diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have also been cited as a backdrop to the NOC refusals.

When asked about the prospect of granting NOCs for the APL, an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board's response was blunt: "I don't think so." That single line effectively signals that the majority of the 29 registered players are unlikely to receive clearance to participate, even though their names now sit formally in the draft pool.

Mohammad Amir's registration grabs attention

One Pakistan-born player who has drawn particular attention is Mohammad Amir, who registered for the APL draft as a United Kingdom national rather than under Pakistan, given that he holds British citizenship and lists the UK as his country of residence.

This route sidesteps the NOC requirement that applies to players registered under Pakistan, and his registration has separately fuelled speculation about his eligibility for other franchise events. The APL's broader draft pool of 462 players reflects the league's ambition to attract international talent, though the PCB's consistent reluctance to issue NOCs means that Pakistan's representation in the final squads could be significantly reduced from the 29 who have put their names forward.

Full list of registered Pakistan players registered for APL Draft:

1. Saim Ayub

2. Mohammad Rizwan

3. Fakhar Zaman

4. Shan Masood

5. Imam-ul-Haq

6. Abdullah Shafique

7. Naseem Shah

8. Hasan Ali

9. Faheem Ashraf

10. Mohammad Wasim Jr

11. Mohammad Haris

12. Hasan Nawaz

13. Arafat Minhas

14. Azam Khan

15. Tayyab Tahir

16. Iftikhar Ahmed

17. Haider Ali

18. Saad Baig

19. Jahandad Khan

20. Khurram Shehzad

21. Kamran Ghulam

22. Sharjeel Khan

23. Abdul Samad

24. Irfan Khan Niazi

25. Usman Qadir

26. Rumman Raees

27. Sameer Minhas

28. Gazi Ghori

What does the APL structure and prize framework look like?

The Afghanistan Premier League is a five-team competition with six to seven overseas slots available per side. Team purses for franchises run between USD 650,000 and USD 750,000, giving each side a defined spending ceiling for the auction. Players placed in the Platinum category command fees of USD 100,000, making them the most expensive bracket in the draft.