The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) reversed its initial decision to withhold No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from three national players – Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, and Naveen Ul Haq – following a “thorough investigation.”
The trio can now participate in global franchise leagues and receive central contracts under the condition of prioritizing ACB’s and Afghanistan’s interests. The ACB has confirmed the players’ complete dedication to the national team and issued a “final warning” along with a “specified salary deduction” for all three.
“Upon the players’ unconditional approach to the ACB and expressing a strong desire to represent the country again, the ACB initiated a comprehensive investigation. After evaluating the players’ initial stance in light of recent developments and acknowledging the importance of their presence in the national team, the assigned committee communicated its final recommendations to the board,” a statement read.
On December 25, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) revealed that three players wanted to end their central contracts. To prioritize national interests, the board decided not to give them No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for two years, crucial for playing in franchise competitions and also decided against renewing their central contracts.
The recent update doesn’t assure them of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for upcoming leagues like the IPL. The ACB mentioned that it will contemplate issuing NOCs and renewing central contracts only after assessing the players’ “discipline” and prioritizing its own interests.
“The ACB and its rules are more important than any of us”- Afghanistan board chairman
ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf stated that the choice to adjust the penalties was influenced by their significance to the national team. He emphasized that future instances of similar “inconveniences” to the board would be dealt with in a more “rigorous” manner.
“The players have undoubtedly contributed to the team’s success and have represented the nation to the best of their values. We hope that they avoid making similar inconveniences in the future as we expect them to represent the country in the best of manners,” he said.
“The ACB and the rules are above all of us and it’s important to adhere to the regulations because there are no exceptions for anyone in this regard. However, such cases of a similar nature would be dealt with more strictly as we prioritize the prestige of the Afghanistan Cricket and the organization” he added.
Mujeeb was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024 auction, and Farooqi and Naveen were retained by the SunRisers Hyderabad and the Lucknow Super Giants, respectively.
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