CricketViewer.com

A number of counties face starting the 2008 season without their high-profile overseas players after it was revealed that anyone who has signed with the breakaway Indian Cricket League is unlikely to be given the necessary clearance to play by their own boards.

Any non-English player needs a “no objection certificate” (NOC) from their home board before being allowed to play in England, and it is believed that several, including New Zealand Cricket and the Pakistan Cricket Board, are refusing to issue them. It comes as the leading boards adopt a hard line towards unauthorised tournaments.

Shane Bond, who signed with the ICL last November, in effect had his career ended by NZC as a result, but earlier this month he signed for Hampshire for the 2008 season. However, without the NOC he will not be allowed to play.

Cricinfo has learnt that one Pakistan player - believed to be Yorkshire’s Rana Naved-ul-Hasan - has already been declined an NOC and it seems likely that others, such as Mushtaq Ahmed and Mohammad Sami, will also be left out in the cold.

Source:Cricket News