ICC: Current players’ wish to play in MCL unacceptable

At least three Full Member boards have written to the ICC expressing concern over their current players asking for no objection certificates to participate in league, which was approved as a Twenty20 event meant strictly for retired players.

ICC senior operations manager Clive Hitchcock.

With current players from three full member nations seeking no objection certificates to participate in the upcoming Masters Champions League (MCL), the ICC has warned the boards against entertaining such demands and called it “unacceptable”.

At least three Full Member boards have written to the ICC expressing concern over their current players asking for no objection certificates to participate in league, which was approved as a Twenty20 event meant strictly for retired players.

“Our decision not to issue a Disapproved Notice was based on the application from MCL which clearly stated that it was an event for retired players only,” ICC senior operations manager Clive Hitchcock said.

He further stated, “Emirates Cricket Board, who sanctioned the event, did so on the basis of their negotiations with MCL for a retired players’ event. Consequently, the actions of those involved with the MCL in seeking current player participation in the event is unacceptable to us.”

It is understood that the three members are Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Cricket South Africa (CSA), and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).