ECB to decline NOC for centrally contracted players to appear in MLC: Report

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are reportedly all set to decline No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for centrally contracted cricketers to participate in the inaugural edition of USA’s Major League Cricket (MLC) set to be played in July. 

The first ever draft of the MLC, the first major franchise cricket league to be launched in America, took place on Monday (March 20th) and plenty of marquee international stars, including the likes of Quinton de Kock, Mitchell Marsh and Wanindu Hasaranga, were snapped up by the six franchises. 

No centrally contracted English players were among those signed and this, it is believed, is due to the ECB declining to release them.

The Cricketer reports that the ECB are ‘resistant to encouraging the development of a competition which takes place in the prime weeks of the English summer.’

But at the same, the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) are also believed to be pushing for players to be released, something that’s said to be causing discomfort within the ECB.

As things stand, however, it seems unlikely that the inaugural MLC edition will witness the participation of English players. The involvement of County players is not clear either.

Earlier this week, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Delhi Capitals picked up a team in the MLC each, making it four IPL-owned franchises in total, with Kolkata Knight Riders already owning the Los Angeles franchise.