South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has won a court battle against Cricket South Africa, clearing the way for him to complete his participation in the International League T20 in Dubai.
The Johannesburg High Court ruled in Shamsi’s favour, ordering Cricket South Africa to extend his no-objection certificate until the end of the ILT20 season, which concludes in early January.
Shamsi had approached the court after CSA initially granted him clearance only until mid-December, despite the tournament running beyond that date. The board argued that he had been selected in the SA20 auction and was expected to prioritise domestic commitments.
However, Shamsi maintained that he had not signed a contract with any SA20 franchise and that restricting his participation in the ILT20 was unreasonable and professionally damaging. The court accepted his argument, finding that CSA’s decision unfairly limited his right to earn a livelihood through overseas leagues.
The ruling also directed CSA to cover Shamsi’s legal costs and allows him to seek further clearance to take part in Australia’s Big Bash League after the ILT20 concludes.
The decision is being viewed as a significant development amid growing tension between national boards and players over participation in global franchise leagues, as the international cricket calendar becomes increasingly congested. (Newswire)