Overview
- Johannesburg High Court issued an interim order compelling Cricket South Africa to provide Tabraiz Shamsi a full NOC through the ILT20 final on January 4 and a separate NOC for the Big Bash League from January 4 to 25.
- CSA was ordered to pay Shamsi’s legal costs, and the ruling gives him immediate clearance to complete the ILT20 with the Gulf Giants and then join the Adelaide Strikers in Australia.
- The dispute arose after CSA limited his clearance to December 19 because he was bought at the SA20 auction by MI Cape Town, even though he never signed a playing contract and later withdrew.
- The court noted that SA20 organizers chose not to discipline Shamsi over the withdrawal and concluded CSA’s stance unjustifiably harmed his ability to earn as a freelance player.
- Shamsi is not centrally contracted but remains available for national selection, and the decision is being viewed as a potential precedent for how boards handle player participation in global franchise leagues.