Usama Mir Criticizes PCB’s NOC Handling After Worcestershire Deal

Pakistani leg-spinner Usama Mir has voiced strong objections to what he describes as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) inconsistent application of rules regarding No-Objection Certificates (NOCs). This follows his recent three-year contract agreement with Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

Worcestershire announced on Monday that Mir has signed a three-year deal to play for Worcestershire Rapids as an international player in the 2026 season. He will then be considered a local player for the subsequent two seasons. The club has indicated that this action supports their broad strategic objectives.

Mir’s prior stint with Worcestershire occurred in 2023 when he achieved top rankings in batting and bowling averages for the team. His planned return in 2024 was however, delayed due to documentation problems, leading to Hayden Walsh from the West Indies taking his position.

Mir’s Disappointment

During an interview on a local sports platform, Mir conveyed his deep frustration with the PCB’s handling of his NOC, referencing circumstances where, according to him, another player received preferential treatment.

“The disappointment was substantial because I noticed apparent double standards. I was informed that I could not receive three NOCs, especially the third one. However, another player was approved for three NOCs simultaneously,” Mir stated.

He mentioned that his contract featured a clause for a ‘special NOC’ when no domestic or international cricket engagements were planned.

“The contract clearly stated that a ‘special NOC’ would be issued if no cricket was scheduled,” he added.

The right-arm spinner communicated his dissatisfaction with the ambiguity and inequity related to the issuance of NOCs, especially when he was not actively participating in the national team.

“I was excluded from the team at the time, and no domestic matches were happening. Yet, my NOC was withheld. When I questioned an official about how the other player obtained three NOCs, I was told, ‘The chairman was different then.’ This was the actual justification I received,” he shared.

He questioned the logic behind the justification from the officials, highlighting the change in PCB leadership.

“I was confused. Does a change in chairman mean my contract also changes? Zaka Ashraf was in charge when I signed the contract, and Mohsin Naqvi took over later. What kind of justification is that?” he questioned further.

Reflecting on the situation, he expressed his profound disappointment and the professional impact it had on him.

“This was all a significant disappointment for me, and I was very upset because a cricketer’s job is to play, and I was prevented from doing so,” he concluded.

Background on NOC Refusal

Mir was unable to participate in the 2024 T20 Blast because the PCB declined to provide him with an NOC. Worcestershire Rapids had signed the leg-spinner, expecting him to participate in the entire tournament following his exclusion from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup team. Despite this, his NOC request faced rejection. It is important to note that Mir entered into a three-year central contract with the PCB after extensive discussions in 2023.

The terms of the agreement allowed centrally contracted players to participate in two T20 franchise leagues each season, in addition to the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The PCB referenced this provision when denying Mir’s request, pointing out that he had already played in the Hundred in August 2023 and the Big Bash League (BBL) during the 2023-24 season.

Even though Mir had not yet signed his central contract when he played in the Hundred, the agreement was applied retroactively from July 1, 2023. Furthermore, Mir’s BBL participation was shortened to only five games because he was called back to the national team for a five-match T20I series in New Zealand. The PCB restated that “all NOCs are subject to national duty.”