There appears to be confusion regarding whether Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would extend the NOCs of Rangpur Riders' players Soumya Sarkar, Afif Hossain and Rishad Hossain before their Global Super League final against Victoria in Guyana. It puts Ranpur's participation in the final in jeopardy as at least seven local stars have to play in the game.

The final between Victoria and Rangpur would begin at 5 am Bangladesh time on the early hours of Saturday and not much time was left.

At the time of filing this report, the players were still with the Rangpur franchise in Guyana. All three players were expected to join the Bangladesh national team in St. Kitts on December 6 before the first ODI against West Indies on December 8. All three players featured in Rangpur's 23-run win Lahore Qalandars via DLS on December 5 [Guyana Time] which ensured their berth in the final.

The three players had initially been handed NOCs till December 5, BCB's in-charge of cricket operations Shahriar Nafees had informed on Friday.

"They had NOC till 5th December and were supposed to join the team on 6th. If the board decides that since it's a global tournament and extend it [NOC] then they will join the team the next morning [December 7]," Shahriar said.

Rangpur Riders had been waiting for the ball to drop since Friday morning but no decision had come through. A BCB official informed that BCB president Faruque Ahmed, who was set to reach St. Kitts, was set to make a decision on the three players' NOCs.

"They [Rangpur] may not have put in a formal request [for NOCs]. Both the franchise and the national team management have been in communication with cricket operations. A final decision is yet to be made. Faruque bhai is going to West Indies so some decisions were postponed," a BCB official informed

Earlier, media reports on Friday morning said that the board had asked the players to be released. "If they remain steadfast in their decision, Rangpur will have to forfeit the final match without even stepping onto the field," a Rangpur Riders statement had read on Friday.

Asked about the players' status, a Rangpur official said on Friday night that NOC had not come through. 

"We are still waiting for their NOCs. Faruque bhai is aware of the situation but we are waiting for the final decision," an official of Rangpur team management informed.

In case Soumya, Afif and Rishad are given permission to play the final, it remains to be seen whether they can join the rest of the national team in time before the first ODI at St. Kitts.

When team's operational manager Nafees Iqbal was contacted on Friday, he informed that they were expecting the three players to join the Bangladesh squad on December 6.

"They are expected to arrive today [December 6]. That's what we had been informed from before and unless there are any further notice, it will continue to be the same," Nafees told The Daily Star on Friday evening.

According to the tournament by-laws, each team would have to play seven local players from their respective countries. Without the three players, Rangpur would have to forfeit and it puts the Global Super League final in doubt.