ECB chairman Richard Thompson says the board will think "very carefully" before granting NOCs for the APL, a partial row-back on last week's reported plan to refuse them, while doubts grow over the league itself.
ECB chairman Richard Thompson has said the board will think "very carefully" before granting NOCs for the APL, ESPNcricinfo reported on Wednesday 7 October 2026. The comments are a partial row-back on last week's reported plan to refuse NOCs for the league, even as doubts emerge around the APL itself.
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| ECB stance | Thompson: the board will think "very carefully" before granting NOCs |
| NOC request | Thompson said it "hasn't come to us yet"; he cited UK restraint-of-trade law as a constraint on any blanket refusal |
| Franchises | Only 3 of the 5 owners announced so far; buyers for the last two are arriving slower than hoped |
| Dates | Draft postponed to 24 October; league scheduled for 27 December to 16 January |
Thompson's row-back
Speaking at a Lord's event this week, Thompson said the ECB will think "very carefully" before granting NOCs for the APL. Last week ESPNcricinfo had reported a plan to refuse NOCs for the league. Thompson said the NOC request "hasn't come to us yet" and pointed to UK restraint-of-trade law as a constraint on any blanket refusal.
Mark Butcher urged the ECB to give players clear guidance. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi urged players to think about the consequences before signing up.
Doubts around the APL
Only 3 of the 5 franchise owners have been announced, with buyers for the last two arriving slower than hoped. One source described the league's prospects as "touch and go". The APL draft has been postponed to 24 October, and the league is scheduled to run from 27 December to 16 January.
England-qualified players registered for the draft include Will Smeed, James Rew, Asa Tribe and Dawid Malan, who was added in the past week.
Why it matters
The ECB's position on NOCs decides whether England-qualified players can take part in the APL, and the story frames Thompson's comments as a hint at a u-turn rather than a final decision. With the NOC request yet to arrive and the draft pushed back to 24 October, players registered for the draft are waiting on clarity from both the board and the league.
Read the full story on ESPNcricinfo. ESPNcricinfo.
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