ECB unlikely to grant Ben Stokes NOC for overseas franchise deals next summer

Ben Stokes won't get an England and Wales Cricket Board No-Objection Certificate to play in overseas franchise leagues next summer while he's still registered with Durham. The former England captain has already spoken with Major League Cricket and Pakistan Super League franchises.

His central contract runs out this month after retiring from internationals in June, but the ECB still controls NOCs for any player tied to a county. November 2024 rules let the board turn down requests if a tournament clashes with domestic fixtures.

Stokes wants to help Durham push for the County Championship. The club has floated short-term deals that would free him during the MLC window. A new IPL rule also blocks him from the 2026 season because he missed the 2025 mega-auction registration.