(Jamaica Gleaner) Captain of the West Indies cricket team, Jason Holder, despite being drafted, will not participate in the upcoming inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament as he has been denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
In a comment posted on Twitter recently, Holder thanked franchise team Quetta Gladiators for selecting him, but expressed that he has not been granted permission to take up the offer.
“Thanks @TeamQuetta for the opportunity,” stated Holder.
“I was not granted a NOC by @westindies and won’t be able to join. Best wishes #maybeoneday.”
Holder, one of 15 players with central-retained WICB contracts, would have joined several of the world’s leading players for the February 4-23 championship in the United Arab Emirates.
These include non-contracted West Indies players Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, AndrÈ Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, and Samuel Badree.
Meanwhile, the West Indies, in a response to a query by The Gleaner as to the official reason behind the non-issuance of a NOC to Holder, said it was based on an organisational policy.
“The WICB has created the window for its retained players to participate in the Indian Premier League, and the Caribbean Premier League,” said WICB marketing and communications manager Carole Beckford.
“The captain is among the retained players and has an obligation to participate in the domestic competitions.”
The PSL, on behalf of Quetta, one of five teams down to participate in the tournament, also issued a statement on the matter.
“Holder was an important part of our plans, but what can we do now,” a PSL official told The Express Tribune.
“We wish him good luck for his assignment, while we’re delighted to sign such a brilliant replacement in the form of (Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara) Perera, who is a clever bowler and a big hitter.”
The PSL is the latest among a flurry of national Twenty20 tournaments that has emerged worldwide since the early 2000s.
Among these are the Indian Premier League, Australia Big Bash, Caribbean Premier League, South Africa Ram Slam, and England NatWest T20 Blast.
