Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the draft for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League T20, with Will Smeed and David Willey also pulling out, after the ECB's plan to grant NOCs for the event drew sharp criticism.
Ollie Pope has pulled the plug. England's former captain has withdrawn from the draft for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League T20 (APL), due to be held on October 24, ESPNcricinfo reported. Will Smeed and David Willey have also pulled out, leaving the ECB's NOC headache a little smaller and the pressure on those still registered a lot bigger.
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| What happened | Ollie Pope withdrew from the APL draft; Will Smeed and David Willey have also pulled out |
| Draft date | October 24 |
| Pope's status | Captained England as recently as last summer; has just signed a new one-year central contract |
| Timing | Pope made his decision before Rob Key spoke to him |
| Still registered | Dawid Malan, who says he is happy to go as long as the boards approve |
| The backlash | Cricinfo revealed the ECB planned to grant NOCs despite refusing bilateral fixtures against Afghanistan over the Taliban government's treatment of women |
| League doubts | Three of five franchises sold; one source called its prospects "touch and go" |
| Season start | December 27 in the UAE, if it goes ahead |
Why the NOC row exploded
Cricinfo revealed this month that the ECB planned to grant No-Objection Certificates for the APL, even though the board has refused to play bilateral fixtures against Afghanistan over the Taliban government's treatment of women. That contradiction lit the fuse, and criticism followed, including from Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi.
ECB chair Richard Thompson said last week the board would need to "think very carefully" before granting NOCs, but suggested UK restraint-of-trade laws were an obstacle.
Key's moral stance, and the timing
On the BBC's Test Match Special podcast on Monday morning, Rob Key, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket, said it was legally hard to stop players going, which makes it a moral judgement, and that players have to be prepared to "take the right moral stance". Key added that he personally disagrees with how women are treated in Afghanistan and would not go himself. He also said he would speak to Pope.
Here is the detail that matters: Pope had already made his decision to withdraw before Key spoke. This was not a player being leaned on mid-podcast.
Did they even know?
It is common for agents to register players for franchise league drafts, and Cricinfo notes it is possible that some players were not aware they had been registered until the backlash arrived. That is a possibility, not a confirmed fact, and none of the players concerned is quoted saying so.
Malan holds his ground
Dawid Malan, who is still registered for the draft, defended his stance. He defers to the ECB and the ICC, and said he needs to earn a living while he can, so as long as the boards approve it, he is happy to go. It sets up an awkward fork: if the NOCs are granted, the decision is Malan's to answer for, and if they are not, it is the ECB's.
Will the APL even happen?
Cricinfo revealed last week there are doubts the APL will go ahead as planned. Only three of the five franchises have been sold, and one source called the league's prospects "touch and go". The tournament is due to begin in the UAE on December 27. Losing marquee English names from the draft will not help the sales pitch.
The withdrawal is reported by ESPNcricinfo (Matt Roller), with the story corroborated by other outlets. Read the full story on Cricinfo. Cricinfo.
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