By Zainab Shafiq 
As the Guyana Global Super League (GSL) gears up for its inaugural run from July 10 to 18, four Pakistani players have been confirmed for action in the much-anticipated T20 event. The buzz around Pakistani players in GSL continues to build, with fans eager to see familiar faces shine on Caribbean soil.
While Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay, and Saud Shakeel have all been signed by different franchises, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued formal No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to only two of them so far — Nawaz and Nafay. Farhan and Saud are still awaiting clearance, though their participation is expected.
Pakistani Players All Set to Shine in GSL
Saud Shakeel will don the jersey of Guyana Amazon Warriors, while Hobart Hurricanes have signed both Mohammad Nawaz and Sahibzada Farhan for the GSL campaign. Khawaja Nafay’s franchise is yet to be revealed, but his NOC suggests an announcement is imminent.
The inclusion of Pakistani players in GSL is part of PCB’s broader strategy to offer national cricketers global exposure through franchise cricket. The board has already allowed 13 players, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, to feature in foreign leagues this year.
These international stints, often seen as key development opportunities, also include Haris Rauf in Major League Cricket (MLC), and Shan Masood, Hasan Ali, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Abbas in England’s County Championship.
PCB Balances Exposure with National Commitments
While critics question the increasing number of NOCs handed out, the PCB maintains that such exposure enhances player form and fitness across conditions. Pakistani players in GSL will be looking to build momentum ahead of packed schedules later this year.
With the BBL draft on June 19 and several top-tier leagues around the corner, this Caribbean league could be a launching pad for younger players like Nafay to break into mainstream international T20 circuits.