The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has taken action against Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naveen-ul-Haq for allegedly prioritising their interests over playing for Afghanistan. The Board stated on Monday that the trio’s annual central contracts for 2024 have been postponed, and they will not be awarded any no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the next two years.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has postponed the annual central contracts of three players for 2024 after they were found participating in commercial leagues and prioritizing their interests over playing for their country. The decision was made following the recommendation of a special committee and is based on national priorities and the ACB’s core values.
According to a statement released by the ACB, the trio had requested to be released from their central contracts starting from January 1, 2024, and expressed their interest in playing for franchise tournaments. The punishment was imposed by a committee that was formed to investigate the matter thoroughly and provide appropriate recommendations that serve the best interests of the ACB.
“The insistence on not signing the central contract for these players was their involvement in commercial leagues, prioritizing their personal interests over playing for Afghanistan, which is regarded as a national responsibility. By opting for their release, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to take disciplinary measures against these players.”
“The decision by the Afghanistan Cricket Board is made with a focus on national priorities, aligned with the ACB’s core values and principles. It highlights the necessity for every player to maintain the ACB’s principles and prioritize the country’s interests above their personal ones.”
At the recently ended Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for his base price of 2 crore. The Mystery spinner was set to return to the IPL after a three-year absence.
In contrast, Naveen-ul-Haq was brought to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) before the IPL 2023. Prior to the IPL 2024 mini-auction, he was retained by the franchise. SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) also retained Fazalhaq Farooqi ahead of the mini-auction.
SRH signed the left-arm seamer for 50 lakh and he has played two seasons for them. Apart from IPL, the trio play their trade in SA20, ILT20, and the Pakistan Super League.