Pope Withdraws from Afghanistan T20 League Draft

WicketPulse · 2026-10-12 · Original automated news brief

England batter Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the draft for the Afghanistan Premier League. He was the only centrally contracted England player in line for the inaugural APL, set to be held in the UAE. The England and Wales Cricket Board must grant a No Objection Certificate for any English player to join the league.

Director of cricket Rob Key had previously stated that players would not participate in the APL, though he acknowledged it is legally challenging to stop them. Pope's decision comes amid discussions about player participation in international leagues outside official engagements.

Based on verified source reporting. Source: BBC Sport ↗ · Source published 2026-10-12