KARACHI: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has decided to not allow their centrally contracted players in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, slated to start from January 27 here at National Stadium. 

CSA’s Director Cricket, Graeme Smith confirmed to ESPNcricinfo, that reports, related to their players’ non-availability for PSL 2022, are true.

“It is true that contracted members of the proteas team had their NOCs for the PSL 7 refused due to the Proteas international schedule and domestic competitions which must always be prioritised,” Smith was quoted saying.

“With an away tour to New Zealand and a home tour against Bangladesh, our contracted players have to be available for their national team duties first and foremost. The same applies with regard to our domestic franchise tournaments which will be starting up soon,

“If and when opportunities in other international T20 tournaments arise and the timings and fixtures do not clash with our own, CSA will happily approve NOCs, as we have always done in the past,” he added.

As a result of this decision, no South African player was picked up by franchises in replacement, and additional players draft that took place on Friday.

Only three South African players including Marchant de Lange, Imran Tahir and Rilee Rossouw are part of PSL 7 squads and three of them are not centrally contracted by CSA.

READ: Teams strengthen their squads for PSL 7