ECB to grant NOCs for Afghanistan Premier League

The England and Wales Cricket Board will allow its players to participate in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League scheduled to begin on December 27 in the UAE. The ECB has maintained it will not play bilateral cricket with Afghanistan over concerns about women's rights but will treat the APL like any other franchise league once it receives ICC sanction.

Ollie Pope and Luke Wood are among ECB-contracted players already registered. James Vince, Moeen Ali, Jason Roy, Reece Topley, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Laurie Evans have also entered their names.

The ECB has faced political pressure over its stance on Afghanistan but treats ICC events as an exemption. The players' draft has been postponed from September 27 to October 24.