The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has taken decisive action against three national team players – Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, and Naveen Ul Haq Mureed – by delaying their national contracts and withholding No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the next two years.
This significant move follows the players’ expressed intention to be released from central contracts, prioritizing franchise cricket. The ACB views this as a breach of national responsibility and has launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Formally communicating their decision to the ACB, the players sought release from annual central contracts starting January 1, 2024, and requested consideration for participation in national events. A committee member stated,
“The three players formally communicated their decision to the ACB, expressing their desire to release themselves from the annual central contract, starting from January 1, 2024, as well as requested to consider their consent for their participation in national events,” as reported by amu.tv.
In response, the ACB has imposed sanctions, rendering the trio ineligible for Afghanistan’s central contract for one year. The players’ participation in events will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Moreover, they will be non-eligible to obtain NOCs for two years, and existing NOCs will be immediately revoked.
Looking ahead to Afghanistan’s on-field commitments, the team is preparing for an upcoming T20I series against the UAE, commencing on Friday, December 29. This series is crucial for Afghanistan’s preparation, especially with the T20I World Cup on the horizon. After facing the UAE, Afghanistan is scheduled to take on the Indian team in a three-game T20I series.
These matches serve as valuable practice for Afghanistan, gearing up for the challenges of international cricket, and will be pivotal in fine-tuning their strategies in anticipation of the T20 World Cup. The ACB’s firm stance aims to uphold the players’ national responsibility and maintain the integrity of Afghanistan’s cricketing commitments.