Reports and social media posts from December 2025 suggest a dramatic shift in South Asian cricketing ties: the Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly banned all Afghanistan players from the Pakistan Super League. For the upcoming PSL Season 11 no Afghan cricketers were included in the draft marking the first time the league will proceed without stars like Rashid Khan Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi who have playing for years.
The move comes during a period of rising political and sporting tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to sources the ban appears to be either a reciprocal step or part of a wider response to diplomatic friction.
Much of the strain stems from recent border related incidents including a deadly air strike near the frontier that killed three local Afghan cricketers in October 2025. The Afghanistan Cricket Board blamed Pakistan for the attack and immediately pulled out of a planned tri series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka a decision that further deepened the rift.
This is not the first time cricket has been caught in political crossfire. The ACB has previously withheld or delayed NOCs for Afghan players to participate in foreign leagues citing national priorities and ongoing tensions. But this is the most direct impact yet on the PSL.
For now the message is clear: Afghan players will not feature in the next PSL season leaving a noticeable gap in the league’s talent pool and signaling how far political realities have begun shaping regional cricket.
