The controversy surrounding Ben Stokes might not affect his playing career outside of England as the chief executive of English Cricket Board, Tom Harrison, claims that the board will not get in the way of the all-rounder should he seek the No-object Certificate (NOC) for playing outside England.

Ben Stokes was taken into custody after being caught fighting outside a bar in Bristol. As the media raged on the Englishman, some witnesses claim that the player was actually saving them from homophobic bullies.

Nevertheless, the case hasn’t been solved yet and that is why the player isn’t playing in the Ashes in Australia. However, Harrison has clearly stated that Stokes will be allowed to play outside the country—like he was allowed to play in New Zealand.

"Ben asked for an NOC to play in New Zealand and we were happy to grant one," Harrison said on Saturday. "What he does with his time is up to him. He remains on full pay.”

Harrison then spoke of the Indian Premier League, stating that it would be “difficult” to not allow Stokes to go the high-profile T20 league given that they allowed the same when New Zealand was concerned.

"It's up to Ben to decide if he wants to play in the IPL. We could say we don't want him to go but I imagine that, having given him an NOC to go and play in New Zealand, it would be difficult for us to say we would not apply the same thinking towards playing in other parts of the world."