Afridi, Junaid clear stance over BCB-CSA row

The ongoing collision between the BCB and Cricket South Africa involving overseas players for the boards’ respective T20 cricket leagues has gained intensity. It is understood that both the boards have got involved in communicating to and fro over the issue and trying to reach a final point. CSA got into a difficult situation after the BPL T20 franchises communicated with the BCB regarding overseas players, who have committed to play in fifth edition this year in Bangladesh but were named in the players’ draft for the South Africa T20 Global League. The players’ draft for the maiden edition of the Global League is set to be held in Cape Town on Sunday. Clash of schedule of the two tournaments has been the chief reason behind the tug of war for the overseas players.

---

Also read: Six BPL T20 franchises submit local players retainees’ list

---

Among the two boards, BCB was the first to declare the schedule of its money-spinning domestic T20 tournament, scheduled to get underway on November 3 in Sylhet. According to sources, the BCB has already communicated with CSA to establish why the BPL franchises are right to have the service of the cricketers involved in the issue.

.@khulnatitans family just got bigger & a whole lotta better ! Braithwaite & Malan joins the team! Benny returns #khulnatitans #bpl2017 pic.twitter.com/zwHtiMR9uR

— Khulna Titans (@khulnatitans) August 24, 2017

Names of at least seven cricketers are understood to have placed a strong case in the issue and that the respective franchises have already submitted copies of agreement with the players to the BCB. Agreements of Cameron Delport and Shahid Afridi with defending champion Dhaka Dynamites, Liam Dawson with Chittagong Vikings and Darren Sammy with Rajshahi Kings have been submitted to the BCB.

---

Also read: Desperate SA Global League upsets BCB, BPL

---

Khulna Titans have provided agreements of Dawid Malan, Carlos Brathwaite and Junaid Khan. Meanwhile, Afridi and Junaid have cleared their stance over the matter and clearly stated that they would be available only for BPL 2017. Afridi and Junaid both took their respective verified Twitter accounts to make statements.

Unfortunate that I'll miss Global T20 due to commitments with Dhaka dynamites in BPL. All the best to everyone in SA ? See you soon. — Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) August 26, 2017

“Unfortunate that I'll miss Global T20 due to commitments with Dhaka Dynamites in BPL. All the best to everyone in SA. See you soon,” said former Pakistan captain Afridi. “I have already signed a contract with @khulnatitans and will be playing with them in BPL. I am not participating in CSA Global league,” informed Pakistan left-arm pacer Junaid.

I have already signed a contract with @khulnatitans and will be playing with them in BPL. I am not participating in CSA Global leauge.. — Junaid khan 83 (@JunaidkhanREAL) August 26, 2017

On the other hand, a few players including the likes of Malan, Dawson and Brathwaite might end up being unavailable during the T20 leagues due to their international commitment. Dawson and Malan are both playing Test for England and have good chance of playing the Ashes series which is set to take place down under in November this year. Meanwhile, West Indies T20 captain Brathwaite is likely to be involved with the tour of Pakistan this November. In a recent announcement by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi, West Indies are set to tour Pakistan this year for a three-match T20I series.