Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir won’t be participating in this year’s T20 Blast after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declined to issue him a No-Objection Certificate (NOC).

The 28-year-old had to represent Worcestershire Rapids in the tournament and was expected to be available throughout, having been left out of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad.

According to media report, the PCB rejected his application for an NOC. Mir was one of the players who signed three-year central contracts with the PCB. Under the terms of the contract, all centrally contracted players are allowed to participate in two franchise T20 leagues in addition to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) per season.

This meant Mir is ineligible to participate in any further T20 leagues during his current contractual period, which extends from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

Mir played the Hundred in August 2023 and the Big Bash League in 2023-24. While he hadn’t signed his central contract when he played the Hundred, it was backdated to begin from the start of July. He was pulled out of the BBL after just five appearances by the PCB after being recalled to the national side for a five-match T20I series in New Zealand. According to the PCB, “all NOCs are subject to national duty”.

Mir had a short stint in BBL and both the player and Worcestershire believed there was a realistic chance of him being granted an NOC for the Blast but PCB’s stance is non-negotiable.

It must be noted that Mir was the top wicket-taker for Multan Sultans in the PSL 9 season but has not featured in any overseas T20 leagues since then

He also represented Manchester Originals in the Hundred last season and has been retained for the 2024 season on a £60,000 contract. He intends to play in the Hundred and one additional league this season.